@p @11112011 @Grandtheftautism @Senator_Armstrong @animeirl @dicey @eisai @icedquinn A gigaton of resources though. Also - merely speculating - nobody like the USA bombing half of the world. Putin managed to gain a moral high-ground. Expanding his influence would be more simple and cheap, becoming a far more serious competitor to the US.

Again, merely speculation. All roads (analysis) must lead to either power or money.