Probably the thing that got me was the Russia part. It just feels like the beginning of another Cold War.
Yeah, I know. The Cold War ended because the USSR gave up control of territory --and became an essentially one party capitalist rather than communist state. The Berlin Wall marked the division between the communist and the capitalist world views. It was argued and proposed that the Soviet bloc wanted to expand its influence and spread communism. That is basis for the animus between the "free world" and communist Korea, China, and Vietnam. But, China started it's move toward participation in the capitalist world much earlier than Russia. Compare the products in or outside your house from Russia v. China.
There still is a cold war in the sense of a struggle against any socialist regime, and any nation associated with socialism. However, the cold war with the USSR was based on military and political expansion, not economic expansion. Today, no one is arguing or cares that Russia is trying to expand economically. The concern --as in the last few years with the Crimea and Ukraine-- is about how Russia is using its military influence outside of Russia. Remember, we asked the question years ago. Is Ukraine its own country? If it is, blah blah blah. The response, though, was that Russia had a right to get involved there. I don't want to go over the details of the argument. I'm only pointing out that some people feel that the Ukrainians can ally with NATO just as rightfully as Assad can ally with Russia.
I don't believe that US relations with Russia should be poor. I think that Russia (and the old USSR) had valid complaints about the west. I know very well about the CIA adventures in other countries. I also think, however, that nothing the US has done makes anything anyone else does right or wrong. The USSR's support of nations screwed over by the US is commendable. I'm just pointing out that I'm not against Russia in any way. I'm also fond of the sayings, "Doveryai, no proveryai" and "poverit' svoim glazam."
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"A man is rich when he has time and freewill. How he chooses to invest both will determine the return on his investment."