Adam---you make a point that I made over on the blog side--this is not about a sphere of influence---this is a doctrine meaning he will take back any state that he can claim has Russian citizens residing in ---ie the Baltics, Hungary, eastern portion of Poland and expand deeper into Moldavia and Georgia and to a degree if one expanded the doctrine I guess it could in theory be even Berlin since there is a sizable group here as well.

Many Americans do not get it as it has been relatively peaceful in Europe since 1995 and the Cold War only a memory.

He has openly stated his hatred of the dissolving of the old SU, his inner circle is former and active KGB/FSB and he himself was a COL in Dresden GDR---do not for a moment think he is a dove and a peacenik.