this mike iseshing i think described as an expert on every issue in form policy, but he is not really an expert on russia, and that turned out to be, for herencredibly refreshing, is michael hammond, an expert on security issues and most notably on budgets and actual capacity.ly -- actual here he is with russia and he may not know everything, but he is able to step back from the narrow blinder view that a likelled expert on russia myself might have, but ask some fundamental questions about its culture, its history, and as he said, even its geography and security challenges, but also its constraints. the same way you would look at of ailitary capability country like the united states or nato. i hope that is what comes across as you take the time to read this very short article. i mean, it is very brief and telegraphic almost. keep in mind the notion of realities. ,here is a reality constraint no matter what is happening in russia today and no matter what president putin is up to. there is a reality constraint and it will be there in the future and it is perhaps most important of all that we keep those things in mind. -- as he said, we started with a playoff system worked from eigh