> the West's weakness Not weakness. A proxy war is much safer than an overt war between nuclear powers. It would be irrational to escalate unless there was

> the West's weakness Not weakness. A proxy war is much safer than an overt war between nuclear powers. It would be irrational to escalate unless there was no other choice. Since feigning ignorance is a choice, that's preferable to escalation. The ability to maintain this status quo, in which Russia depletes itself in a quagmire, is very advantageous to NATO. Maintaining this status quo is a show of NATO's strength. If NATO let itself get baited into an overt war with Russia, that would be weakness.