As a Russian, I recognize the pattern. It is much easier to point out contradictions in others than to address the fact that our “superpower” status has devolved into being a global nuisance with an incompetent military.

You’re right—it is a strange position to be in: a gas station that can’t win its own war, yet insists on being a global player. We use the “What about America” script specifically so we don’t have to face how hollowed-out our war machine has actually become. It’s the essence of vranyo—we both know the “Great Power” image is a fiction, but we keep talking about the US to avoid the embarrassment of our own reality. I see you’ve adopted that tradition perfectly.