[TrumpCard]

All fair points, and Petropavlovsk does seem geographically problematic for us. But I’m assuming that both Russia and NATO could have conflicts short of a nuclear Holocaust, and that conventional military tactics could be relevant to the outcome. Aside from Petropavlovsk, the other naval bases all seem problematic because those other bases are within ATACMS range of NATO territory and most of the bases are “hemmed in.”  Not to mention would have air superiority. The US has natural geographic advantages. It sure is nice that Russia doesn’t have a good place from which to attack San Diego or Norfolk or Honolulu, or most other major American naval bases. But even beyond those advantages, other NATO countries have major naval bases in areas far from Russian military sites. Devonport, Rota, La Spezia, etc.  I don’t see how any of those bases would be vulnerable to Russian attack.  Russia can credibly threaten to end the world, but I don’t think Russia can credibly threaten to invade any NATO country other than the formerly soviet Baltics. Given what we’ve seen in Ukraine, I have my doubts that Russia could take Finland even if NATO didn’t commit troops.

[TrumpCard]

All fair points, and Petropavlovsk does seem geographically problematic for us. But I’m assuming that both Russia and NATO could have conflicts short of a nuclear Holocaust, and that conventional military tactics could be relevant to the outcome. Aside from Petropavlovsk, the other naval bases all seem problematic because those other bases are within ATACMS range of NATO territory and most of the bases are “hemmed in.”  Not to mention would have air superiority. The US has natural geographic advantages. It sure is nice that Russia doesn’t have a good place from which to attack San Diego or Norfolk or Honolulu, or most other major American naval bases. But even beyond those advantages, other NATO countries have major naval bases in areas far from Russian military sites. Devonport, Rota, La Spezia, etc.  I don’t see how any of those bases would be vulnerable to Russian attack.  Russia can credibly threaten to end the world, but I don’t think Russia can credibly threaten to invade any NATO country other than the formerly soviet Baltics. Given what we’ve seen in Ukraine, I have my doubts that Russia could take Finland even if NATO didn’t commit troops.