They are no more our enemies than the Chinese, just competitors economically. Russia is not interested in acquiring more territory and has a full-time job not losing what it has now, and dealing with a level of diversity and internal strife unknown to us in the USA.
They work with us on space missions and work with our oil companies to exploit technology for Russia's reserves. We've made connections are from the top to the bottom of our societies. They are emigrating here and marrying Americans. We are one with them.
All the same things are happening with Chinese and Americans. The Chinese have MFN with us and are buying up land, industries and all the rest of such things in the USA. Their intentions are the same as businesses here. The connections with China have grown exponentially both culturally and economically.
America is a nexus of the world, like China and Russia, and Europe has been for centuries. These connections will not broken, no matter what the media gadflies try to promote.
The tenor of these stories are meant to fire up those who haven't been able to leave the Cold War mentality, with all its myriad excuses for fear and subsequently being funded, behind. Or because of the latter, don't want to leave it. And they invested a lifetime and have been educated and worked in fields dedicated to what they believe is the right thing. They may be right, too. But then, what they do is secret, so news consumers are much more likely to mis-characterize them.
The Cold War is over. Both of the other two global superpowers are now crony capitalists. So are the owners of the media of whom Snowden, Assange, etc. have a stake in their game and benefited from their largess for being able to captivate large numbers of media consumers.
Fear the KGB, CIA, NSA, FBI? The evil alphabet agency scenario is also losing appeal among the thinking public in the western world. Much of our necessities of life are handled by one or more huge organizations, the church, private corporations or government. People can just pick the one that will let them be involved with decisions, and allow them due process. Hint, it's not the first two.
The 'I'm an island' libertarian mentality, along with 'I've got something new in mind, never before seen, that I can't describe, it just is, so listen to me' rave have severe deficits in comprehending how people have always, and will always, organize to survive and physical reality. They only exist in a self-serving fantasy.
The question for the people of the world is what organization serves them best and how to fit into it. Outside political life is where these associations are made. They are the backbone of politics that make the laws we live under. Those who don't want to get involved, have not left their fantasy world. And clearly, they haven't met any Teabaggers, who are stealing their rights.
JMHO. YMMV.
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