The horrifying REAL reason Putin played the Trump card.

a reply to: Kettu

Look, Russia has the GDP of Italy. Russia is facing a HUGE population decline by 2030. Western Europe is becoming less and less reliant on Russian oil and gas. China is causing pressure and competition for Russia.

I can agree with this, sure, based on initial fact digging. So how can that make the US and Russia proper rivals? My thought is that they would be wiling to play ball instead of trying to begin or keep any conflict.

If they don't then down they go and Russia will implode. They are a struggling country and if they wish to progress they will need to cease detrimental operations and play in the same markets as everyone else.

a reply to: JinMI

We're rivals in that we both have some of the largest military forces in the world. What's good for us isn't always what's good for Russia. That makes us rivals.

The fact is, Putin cares about his country -- and won't hesitate to ruin other countries to make his better. America being one of them.

I have nothing against Russian people, or former Soviet Republic people. Borscht is tasty, but microbus's suck. Also, having to walk to get potable water daily is a little to third world for me (looking at YOU Moldova).

I don't want to live in a mirror image of Putin's Russia.

It saddens and frustrates the hell out of me that we have to rely on Russians to get to the ISS in orbit. We've gutted our own space program so thoroughly that we have to hitch rides with the Russians? A once proud space-going country that landed on the Moon now has to pay for rides on decades old equipment?

a reply to: Kettu

Militarily, sure. I'm not sure I understand the tactic of toppling the largest economy in the world however. I've nothing against Russia nor do trust them absolutely. Also, I don't share in the Putin boogeyman rhetoric either.