I disagree only on the idea that fighting Russia conventionally will lead to massive casualties. IF we imagine a fairy-tale world which Russia does not use nukes, I don’t see too many reasons why the result of an invasion of Russia will not be similar to an invasion of Iraq. Even the planners of Desert Storm expected high casualties and a long stalemate before eventual victory…we know that the exact opposite happened; and Iraq was a formidable enemy.

I’m not saying I’m sure it’ll be a cake walk, but nato, and the US in particular has the technology, the weaponry, and the operational conduct to win these conflicts not involving nukes.