In some ways we are seeing a return to the fear of Russia that is as old as western civilisation. The new issue is of course nuclear weapons - Russia still has a substantial arsenal of bombs and the weapons to deliver them. The US will never be content to have a strong Russia while that country is the only serious challenger to US nuclear dominance. And the US must really fear any kind of axis between Russia and China, or Russia and 'old Europe'. The current friendliness between Germany and Russia based on Russian oil and gas reserves must be giving Washington plenty to think about.
Peter McMahon