Three things:
1- In non-nuclear combat with Russia, there is no rear area; no tactical rear, no operational rear, no strategic rear. Russian non-nuclear weapons cover them all. Think about that. Continental USA is not a rear area in a non-nuclear fight with Russia. No where is. Soon enough, there will be no rear area in a non-nuclear fight with China.
2- Russia is opening war crimes investigations and tribunals with respect to perpetrators of the war against Russia on and in 404. Along with their home foundation, government, and academic officials, with whom they have cooperated against Russia, US and European journalists, influencers / pundits, their companies and think tanks will be named, charged, tried, and convicted, in the open, and as far as possible punished.
Committing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan is one thing. American and European journalists, influencers / pundits, and their companies and think tanks got away with that one because . . . who could prosecute them?
Russia is another matter altogether. This time, wrt Russia and 404, American and European journalists, influencers / pundits, their companies and think tanks are not getting away with it. Russia will visit Ate come hot from hell upon the lot of them. It’s a long list, and Ate is up for finishing the job.
3- The USA long ago lost the arms race to Russia in both conventional and nuclear arms. She cannot, will not catch up, much less exceed, Russia’s accomplishments in war-fighting capabilities and therefore balance of power authority. What’s the point? What’s the grand strategic point in trying to do something you can’t do?
Big cats don’t fight one another because, if they do, both will die of infection at least. It’s time to talk, make amends, and be truthful and fair with Russia and India. Then with China and Cuba.
Homeland defense is the operational art permitted and required of nations today. Inter-continental armed conflict today fathers only ruin. Intra-continental armed conflict today is part of homeland defense and therefore can father cultured civilization when called upon to perform. Ideas of The USA containing, blocking, checking, degrading, strategically defeating, slicing up, much less fighting, either Russia or China are unhealthy on their face.