Very well said, as usual. Your expertise far outstrips mine.

I didn’t mention France because to me, militarily, politically and culturally, France seems more of a disorganized, crumbling, zombie in thrall to its faded past glories than a coherent, modern state.

The rest of the Europeans, especially in southern Europe, are not serious actors.

I do agree that keeping large armies away from the Russian frontier is the best chance for peace in Europe. But for leaders with no grasp of history, that seems counterintuitive.

Interesting times we live in.