I fail to see the logic here. Putin’s decision to annex Crimea, sponsor wars of cessation in the eastern provinces, and then invade Ukraine outright. How is any of this the result of “conventional thinking” or the decline of U.S. power? And how is what Putin doing in any way excusable based on what the U.S. does domestically or abroad?

You’re right, this isn’t like Iraq, Vietnam, and other examples you cited. The reason being, the U.S. isn’t doing any of the fighting and is taking steps to limit its involvement. The mistake is Americans who think this is all about them and that it can be won by them.

In that respect, this is more akin to Afghanistan and Syria, where the U.S. got involved and lent support, but was also limited in what it could do and selfishly assumed that it was all about them. Therein lies the old way of thinking (imho) and the faulty logic.