RUSSIA IS NOT OUR ENEMY…
The primary issue is that Americans don’t understand russian ambitions, and russians can’t imagine why americans are so naive and optimistic. It is entirely possible to form a grand bargain with the russian leadership to assist in russian restoration and expansion as long as it is southward into less developed civilizations, not westward into more developed civilization.
Unfortunately, putin won’t follow the example of Netanyahu of circumventing the american government and taking the message directly to the american people. If he did this the people would love him. (most of us do).