1) Because they have a shit load of nukes.
Originally Posted by TexTushHog
So do the Chinese, Israelis, Brits, Indians, and Pakis.
2) They has aspirations of conquest, or at least economic dominance, the Western Europe where we have vital interests and a treaty obligation to defend allies.
Originally Posted by TexTushHog
Actually it's the US causing that concern by expanding NATO to Russia doorstep. We're essentially allying all of Russian Buffer states together and from the Russian viewpoint against them. Were we to mind our own f*cking business for a change, the Russians would be less concnerned about historical enemies allying against them.
3) They supply a shitload of natural gas to our allies in Europe.
Originally Posted by TexTushHog
So? If our allies in the EU had any brains they could devest themselves of that reliance through Nuclear energy. Instead they are shutting down those plants. I'm unclear on how Russian energy supplies make them our enemy. Additioanlly, fracking has reduced the attractiveness of Russian NG... the EU can always buy from the US.
4) They don't share our democratic values and are a totalitarian leaning State and have been for over 300 years.
Originally Posted by TexTushHog
again, China, Nork, the whole fucking Middle East. So they aren't a democratic Republic... again why should that concern the US?
5) They have failed to adhere to democratic norms in Chechnya, Georgia, and the Ukraine.
Originally Posted by TexTushHog
Do we have some strategic interests in those places? I think not, you likely can't even find them on a map.
Just wild ass guesses on my part, of course.
Originally Posted by TexTushHog
Yeah, and none too accurate I might add. Look the Cold War is over. Economically, the Russians are broken. Demographically, the Russians won't even be around in 20 years time... it will be one vast empty wasteland from the Polish border to the Kamchatka peninsula. They are no longer a geo-political threat to the US, despite how much they might like to be or aspire to be.