In the previous cold war, post Stalin, the West was dealing with rational actors in the USSR for whom the MAD deterrence strategy served as a check. The biggest concern today is that Putin may no longer be rational. Many who have dealt with him before have remarked he is now different. The eye test says something is very wrong with him physically. If that is the case his desire for revenge for the fall of the old USSR may outweigh his mortality concerns.
In the previous cold war, post Stalin, the West was dealing with rational actors in the USSR for whom the MAD deterrence strategy served as a check. The biggest concern today is that Putin may no longer be rational. Many who have dealt with him before have remarked he is now different. The eye test says something is very wrong with him physically. If that is the case his desire for revenge for the fall of the old USSR may outweigh his mortality concerns.
"I realize just how idealistic this is, but doom casting isn’t going to change things." I needed to hear this sentiment today. Thanks, Scott.