Russia sees Trump as conduit for eased sanctions

[Hortensis]

7. High-blown dreams. Russia has many severe problems

to overcome before it could even imagine taking our place, and one of them is their government under Putin and his supporters. Aggressive and extremist kleptocrat nationalists, they're hardly the stuff to build a healthy, prosperous nation, much less become an international leader other nations were able to build their own security on. How long until their temporary cooperation with China breaks down?

Whatever boost easing our sanctions may give them will be very unfortunate, though. And definitely what's liable to happen to some of the surrounding nations if Russia does not fear retaliation for aggression. With all our problems, at least we do not go to bed wondering if we might wake up to Russian tanks on the highway.