But the question is, is this impotent rage, or one that serves a purpose? By grabbing the Crimea, Russia only salvaged the Black Sea military status quo while gaining a new region in need of subsidies, but the USA gained the rest of Ukraine and potential NATO expansion along Russia1s western border, and a reason to impose sanctions on Russia (though if that was in a contingency plan, then European reluctance to go along wasn't properly gauged).

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}