I agree on many of your points and each day, for the 30 years that I lived in Russia, I asked myself, "what Russia am I am going to get today?" I have dealt with thousands and thousands of daily happenings over those 30 years which kinid of makes me an expert on the Russia mind/person. So, callling the bully out can lead to more violence but you have to understand one thing: Russians are like peacocks. The love to get all agitated and loud and flash those beautiful tail feathers but then after that burst of energy and emotion, they kind of want to slink back off to wish-washiness. Over my 30 years, I was in at least 20 or more public fights, I went over there when I was in my 20s, and in many cases after the initial hurled fists, we would literally be sitting down to drink vodka together at the end of the night...or soccer match. A decision to start a nuclear war requires the kind of bravery and resoluteness that Russians don't have. And anyone who will now bring up tales of bravery during WWII is just wasting time...different generation. This society is trending down...all one has to do is spend some time in the countryside of Russia; I taught at the university in St. Pete until June, most of my wonderful students are so ignorant of basic information. it made it difficult for me to teach. You make good points and tomorrow, I will reassess my views on Russia and maybe back down from what I wrote here--this is why Russia is such a hard nut to crack. It never commits and changes every other day.