Ok, let's assume you are right, and this is about the will of the US and not about the will of PL and CR.  You still have not adequately explained why, WHY, the US would want to target Russia.  Because they won't be our vassals?  War is based on perceived threat, not perceived independence.  Not when we're talking about this level of military engagement.  The rule Proportional Response might have gone out the door with BushCo., but people still have to believe there is a threat strong enough to warrant such loss of life.  What's the threat Russia poses?  Seems to me like the only offense they've caused is that they are doing exactly the kind of things we as Americans always prided ourselves on.  Only perhaps better...

There are no longer 2 opposing imperialist ideologies, 2 trains sharing one track headed straight for each other with MAD being the only device to keep them from slamming into each other.  The political landscape isn't dictating another match-up between us.  Russia seems content to draw its strength from its own resources and seems to be looking eastward for strategic alliances, which can carry a lot more influence than, uhm, the Czech Republic, while America is steeped in the GWOT - which Russia actually is not actually ideologically opposed to, just critical of the way its being carried out- and is drained of resources, having no recourse if god-forbid this muscle-flexing accidentally resulted in international incident.  We're all bark and no bite at this point.  Why go out of our way to bark at the dog that could bite back?

The current power struggle and war of words might  look to the common observer like Cold War 2.0.  But it lacks credible "cause" for this "effect."   Most importantly, in this version of the Cold War, there is a general lack of consequences for avoiding the containment of Russia, whereas the consequences for getting all up in their face could not possibly help us at the moment.  It would however, help them.

Metaphor:  Igorant punks decide to go to the zoo for kicks, and bring with them a sling-shot to the tiger's den...  

I just don't get it.  We don't have enough enemies in the world at the moment?  We have to go invent more?  

PL and CR having some collective PTSD from their relationship with Russia in the 20th Century, wanting a restraining order, and asking the US for protection in return for their agreeing to be in the coalition of the willing makes more sense than just the us provoking Russia just because ... it's Russia.

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.