Pardon my instantaneous and intuitive response but this seems an instance of Russian agitation and propaganda? Agitprop as deemed!
"Great Nations Are Destroyed By Being Pulled Into Wars To Defend Tiny Ones"
Original article by Martin Sieff via The Strategic Culture Foundation. Thanks to same and Zero Hedge, the tip from Al..
"NATO's obsession with pulling in as many small, unstable and potentially extremist countries in Eastern Europe as possible makes a world war inevitable rather than deterring one."
SMALL AND "POTENTIALLY" EXTREMIST COUNTRIES SUCH AS POLAND, THE BALTICS, AND EVEN UKRAINE.
Ukraine as perceived by Moscow already aligned with NATO even if Kiev not a constituent member of NATO. Poland and the Baltic nations having a definite and obvious historical animus with the Russian.
Precedent as cited Serbia and Belgium in World War One. Poland in World War Two.
IN A MORE RECENT CONTEXT THINK KOREA AND VIETNAM?
Assuming this premise of this article is correct, devoted readers to the blog can think of other historical examples, great nations destroyed or greatly weakened by waging war to defend a small and relatively defenseless nation? Let me hear from you.
coolbert.