[sigmoid10]

>The troubles Russia has in the Ukraine seem to indicate vast land grabs belong to the history books.

Well, not for lack of trying. If Russia's military were actually competent and not a clusterfuck of corruption and lies, the world might look different now. And it's not like they haven't done the exact same thing to weaker countries without western support in the recent past. If Russia were successful this time, China might also feel emboldened on the whole Taiwan thing. And who knows how far Trump and Netanyahu will go with their ideas for the middle east.