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Look at that map. Now take into account Japan and Korea to the east. And for a period of about 20 years we had bases all up in many of the xxxxstans of central Asia.
Now take into account we also were looking at offering Georgia NATO membership in the mid aughts.
Who is surrounding who, and taking into consideration what I mentioned about history earlier..... You see what I'm getting at when you look at it objectively from a non US centric, non world police viewpoint?
Much love and respect to you and you have significantly more experience in Russia, in Russian culture, etc than likely anyone here.
Yes Russian history is one of being invaded, going all the way back to the Vikings, Genghis Khan and the Turkomen/Mongols, and the Goths. Probably before all that too but those are some noteworthy ones that go even further beyond the past 300 years you listed, so in my understanding there's deep -rooted wounds and paranoia to the Russian psyche stemming from all that, and hence the anger at perceived encirclement and the desire for buffer states.
However, post WWII Soviet/Communist expansion and behavior globally, plus the buffer state experience Eastern Europe received for nearly 50 years has driven them (and others) into the arms of Western Europe and NATO. That common treaty of 'you attack one of us, you're attacking all of us' is mighty alluring to anyone wanting to keep the Russians contained out of their country. These attitudes didn't come out of nowhere, it stems from Russian behavior and belligerence and attitude.
Now the domino theory hasn't worked out too well for the world historically, however...after watching what happened in Georgia/Abkhazia/Ossetia, then Crimea and eastern Ukraine, now all of Ukraine proper...it isn't beyond the pale to worry for Lithuania/Latvia/Estonia, or whatever Russia might annex again to 'ensure stability for Russian citizens in the Kaliningrad enclave' or whatever excuses Putin, Lavrov and Medvedev come up with. Desire for a legally-binding guarantee that Ukraine will never ever ever, even if there's a fire, be allowed to join NATO? A nation Russia has been openly threatening and interfering with for, what, 10 years now? At least.
Also keep in mind a some of those 'Stans you mentioned aren't all that wild on the Russians too. While a good bit of it was likely money from us and a lot of it, there was a reason several of them enjoyed having US bases/presence in them for those 20 years. Hell in Kyrgyzstan we had a base (Manas) on the opposite side of Bishkek from a Russian airbase, they had us both there.
Or am I completely wrong and full of shit? Totally possible.
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www.washingtonexaminer.com
