WHY THE OLD GAME OF 'RISK'

MY YOUNGER COUSIN IS DATING A MAN FROM RUSSIA AS I WRITE-- I MET THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN WITH HIS BROTHER BY HIS SIDE AT THE LAST THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY GATHERING IN 2021. THEY WERE VERY FRIENDLY AND I LIKED THEIR RUSSIAN ACCENTS WITH THEIR GREEN CARDS FOR THE US STAY. THERE WERE NO WORRIES OR TALKS OF ANY CONFLICT WITHIN EACHOTHER'S COUNTY. BUT PUTIN MADE A STANCE AT THE UKRAINE BORDERS. WHO'S MOVE IS NEXT IN THIS RISKY GAME OF CONQUESTS?

I ASK WHO IS IN ALLIANCE WITH RUSSIA AT THIS TIME OF PENDING CONFLICT? MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE A SMALLER RUSSIAN ALLY AND TAKE TARGET LESSONS TOO. PUTIN DOES NOT TRUST THE NATO ALLIANCE LIKE WE DON'T TRUST THEIRS. SO WE HAVE TO IRON OUT DIFFERENCES WITH TALKS ON BOTH SIDES IF NOT TOO LATE.

AND-- WHO HOLDS THE MOST BLACK GOLD AND FERTILE TERRITORIES IN THE LAND? IS IT A QUESTION OF INVESTING IN GAS AND OIL FOR ALL COUNTRIES CONCERNED? WHO IS IT THAT IS IN DIOR NEED OF FOSSIL FUELS AND THEIR PORTS? I SUSPECT THAT THE PORTS OF THE CENTER OF INTEREST IN THIS DEFENSE BUILDUP TO THIS POINT.

THE FOSSIL FUELS ARE BIG BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT US ALL IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. SO MAYBE WE CAN TIME SHARE PORTS INSTEAD OF CLAIMING THEM TO ONE COUNTRY. WHAT DRIVES UP THE COSTS OF FUELS NOW IS OWNERSHIP'S WISH. AND YET THE GAS AND PIPELINES AND PORTS CROSS TERRITORIES--

THEN THERE ARE TERRITORIES OF WATER NAVIGATIONS-- CROSSING ENEMY TERRITORIES TOO. EVERYTHING IS TRIPPED UP.