Excellent essay. I think it's safe to say, Russia is tired of being pushed around by the West. I didn't think Putin would invade, but if I look at the situation objectively, NATO/US cornered Russia. Imagine if China or Russia intervened in Canada or Mexico's elections, weaponized half the population, and intended to develop military bases along the border.

I think I'm supposed to defend the US because I was born there, but I don't think it has any moral ground to stand on. The government isn't any better than any other, and if we're so democratic, why don't we invest in peace?

Also, I think it's funny the West is scolding China because it hasn't taken a harsher stance against Russia. China is always in trouble and in a lose-lose situation, and aside from destroying the planet like every other government, I don't know what China has done to the world.

It'll be interesting if Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and every other nation under sanctions begin ignoring the West's demands. Who knows where we're headed.