Even if they didn't have a functioning nuclear arsenal, do they want a conventional war with Russia? Do they want to occupy Russia? Russia is a massive landmass with over twice the population of Iraq and Syria combined. Do we really want to spend the next century dealing with the Russian equivalent of ISIS? Hell, in a power vaccuum the "useless" Russian nuclear arsenal will now be in the hands of thousands of non-state actors who are all pissed off at the west.
yes. they wanted to occupy Iraq. they wanted to occupy Afghanistan. why would Russia be any different? i know your post has material reasons why it would be a bad idea to try but imperialists don't care. we had thatMillennium Challenge war game that shows going to war with Iran would be a terrible idea and yet people are still champing at the bit for that.
Even if they didn't have a functioning nuclear arsenal, do they want a conventional war with Russia? Do they want to occupy Russia? Russia is a massive landmass with over twice the population of Iraq and Syria combined. Do we really want to spend the next century dealing with the Russian equivalent of ISIS? Hell, in a power vaccuum the "useless" Russian nuclear arsenal will now be in the hands of thousands of non-state actors who are all pissed off at the west.
Don't forget the Swedes, they got fucked up at Poltava
Poland-Lithuania and the Mongol Golden Horde, though. Not that I disagree with your main point.
(Granted, Russia post-Tsardom is a vastly different beast)
yes. they wanted to occupy Iraq. they wanted to occupy Afghanistan. why would Russia be any different? i know your post has material reasons why it would be a bad idea to try but imperialists don't care. we had thatMillennium Challenge war game that shows going to war with Iran would be a terrible idea and yet people are still champing at the bit for that.