You really think it's as simple as you describe?
I think this is going to be long so I'll do part one today. Part 2 tomorrow. Part 3 on Thursday if I have time. Otherwise, Friday... feel free to respond to any part.
So what is Russia's goal on the world stage? Let's talk about geopolitic, asymmetric warfare, and military proxies. You seem to fancy yourself a student of international politics with your laughing faces.... I'm intimidated sure, but I'll give it a shot and see where this takes us, okay?
Let's start with the Primakov Doctrine. As you are aware, the collapse of the USSR left
Russia in turmoil. Economically and militarily they lost their ability to challenge the US as the US was emerging as the single world power. Yevgeny Primakov, the architect of Russia's Middle East policy came up with a doctrine based on asymmetric warfare tactics and applied it geopolitics. One of the key tactics objectives of asymmetric warfare is to avoid directly confrontation with someone when overmatched. So Primakov came up with a doctrine to allow Russia to pursue an independent foreign policy because they knew they would not be able to counter the US's emerging role by being the US's direct opposition anymore. Russia did not want to be internationally irrelevant so Russia would gain power by applying some simple concepts outlined in the doctrine.
1) Forge a strong relationship with an emerging China (done)
2) Try and limit NATO's power (done)
3) Regain the states lost to the collapse of the empire and restore them to their control (in progress)
4). Pursue policies independent of US policies to gain economic and regional advantages. (ongoing)
5) Recruit other nations through their influence to form a counter to US and NATO power (ongoing
^^^^ If you know anything about what's going on in the world, does that look familiar to what's going on? Don't believe me, go look at the doctrine. That's been the playbook for Russian policy for the last 20 years.
Now, when you create a vacuum by leaving places like Syria and Afghanistan, leave NATO treaties and threaten to withdraw from them and and abandon places such as Hong Kong and the Ukraine, do you think that hurts or helps that doctrine? Instead of countering as our foreign policy has done, we invite them to the White House and try and get them added back to the G8.
The goal of the doctrine was to regain Russian influence by building enough power through these means and we're playing right into their hands.
Part 2 we'll dive into asymmetric warfare, proxies and how Russia is using them to attack the US while weakening some of our strongest allies. We'll address the bounty issue here.
Part 3 we'll talk about how they've taken these tactical approaches to their geopolitical strategy and what they're going to do with it. They have a goal in mind we'll discuss why you should be worried.
Here, I'll give it some smileys to give my post the same kind of weighty gravatas you give yours
Maybe you can start a thread on Biden's Dementia or Trump's instead of actually trying to understand what's going on.
If I seem pissed, I am. Don't dismiss what the Russians are capable of doing and if they are playing this game of bounties (if true), they're emboldened enough to begin more direct attacks against the west. The Russians are playing chess and we're playing checkers right now and it just touched people I care about.
If I made a mistake and your smilies aren't an indication of your vast knowledge on this subject, do some reading.
