The cost of NATO expansion is that Russia has been lost in the medium term -- and perhaps in the long term as well -- as a powerful, committed democracy and Western ally. Moreover, the West has pushed Russia closer to China and Iran.
Yeah, never was and never will be a committed democracy and Western ally and was always closer to China and Iran. We definitely could have done a better job of recognizing Russia for what it was and acknowledging their issues. The US set it itself up as a convenient and easy opponent and a good counterpoint for Russian nationalism.

Kremlin-controlled daily Izvestia has called the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a "war hawk" and "a single old skinny lady that likes to display her underwear during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov."
What is this about? War hawk I get, but single old skinny lady that likes to display her underwear? Are we in Junior high school (see last quote at link)? Well, who's looking, Mr. Crusty Long Face? Just like junior high school, the boy who throws rocks at you just really wants to see your panties...see this pic for example.