What do you think the distinction is between Russia losing it's zone of influence and countries joining up with NATO? I agree with you and believe the Russians simultaneously.
Russia is losing its zone of influence because it didn't hold on to it tightly and the US took it. Pretty much the same thing happened to the British, although they got beaten down by the Germans first so they weren't in a position to do much more than pretend to resist.
Although in this case the US is much closer to the British analogue. They've got financial problems, they've got industrial problems, they've got a lot of upcoming challengers and their diplomatic mis-management could easily lead to a massive blow up that unseats them.
Russia is losing its zone of influence because it didn't hold on to it tightly and the US took it. Pretty much the same thing happened to the British, although they got beaten down by the Germans first so they weren't in a position to do much more than pretend to resist.
Although in this case the US is much closer to the British analogue. They've got financial problems, they've got industrial problems, they've got a lot of upcoming challengers and their diplomatic mis-management could easily lead to a massive blow up that unseats them.