EXTENDING RUSSIA: COMPETING FROM ADVANTAGEOUS GROUND

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by James Dobbins et al | Published by RAND Corporation (2019)

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This work assumes the absence of détente and clearly views Russia in its current form as an enemy of the United States. It contains a smorgasbord of options for the US government and military to employ against Russia. The central theme is one of overextending Russia in a manner that would render the country and nation vulnerable to US predation and attack. Each chapter represents a different methodology for weakening Russia. Subsections apply the methodology to a specific target area. The fate of the Russian people is not considered in any meaningful way. The authors indicate what they believe are Russian anxieties and then propose measures to heighten and exacerbate these vulnerabilities. Similar to game theory, morality is displaced. The current ongoing war in Ukraine has illuminated just how misguided this document is. Serious miscalculations persist. Worth reading to gain a contemporaneous understanding of the US mindset towards Russia, and perhaps the world.

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DETAILS:

Title: Extending Russia: competing from advantageous ground

Year: 2019

Author: James Dobbins et al

Pages: 354

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Book review by Keith Salter