Russia has natural resources in siberia and the artic sea (and 20,000 nukes) to regain superpower status, minus an expensive and largly useless empire. The US is in a very poor position to challenge putins claims, the looming crisis with iran makes both russia oil and UN vote priceless. And amid claims of the looming destruction of america from everything from arabs to mexicans to global warming there is only one thing which can actually do it, those 20,000 nukes. Not saying that's likely, but the failure to buy up large portions of this nucleur material was a huge mistake. While we wallow in the quicksand of the middle east history goes on without us. The obvious market for this oil, minerals, timber, ect. is the waking giant to the south. An alliance against the west? Or perhaps the war that destroys a third rate planet circling an obscure star in an insignificant galaxy will have nothing with the US. Not quite sure if I find that comforting or not.