In an all out war Chechyn forces would lose. I don’t think any country has the support for large casualties. The Russians know they cannot lose their oil, that would be death to them, if no other avenue exists they will confront us.
Very possible two birds with one stone. We were both thinking the same thing and Putin is now armed with an excuse. Russia, the United States and China use each other as a counterbalance in the region. The U.S. presence not only keeps Russia in line it limits China’s influence. Russia does not want to see China become dominant so in that respect we are also doing Moscow a favor. The three countries in this way are helping one another.
Bush has sown seeds of destruction that will grow and bloom in the near future. No weed killer can help us now.