I think it's a hefty chunk of paranoia. The US is absolutely a non-issue unless you have previously pissed them off. This is the same for every country. What i

I think it's a hefty chunk of paranoia. The US is absolutely a non-issue unless you have previously pissed them off. This is the same for every country. What is not is walking 30km in the middle of nowhere in Central Asia because you didn't have enough cash to pay the driver's bribe. Stuff like that is a far more realistic concern than the security border paranoia stuff that goes on. Know where you are going, plan ahead and stay out of obvious trouble. That applies everywhere. The US is not special. (Incidentally when I got to the first town, the guy in the shop laughed at me and invited me in for tea and dinner on him and his wife and I got to learn all about their history under Russia - it's not all bad)