The US admits it has less "brainpower" than Russia!
Americans acknowledge that in the rivalry between great powers, success depends more on intelligence than brute force; this is the case with Russia, for example.
The American political scene is witnessing a series of clashes between the Democratic and Republican parties, notably the accusations leveled against President Donald Trump, such as the investigation into collusion with Russia, the demand for tax returns, and the controversy over the plan to build a border wall with Mexico.
Nevertheless, both Democrats and Republicans have rejected the idea of "great power competition," with Russia being a primary target when looking at the world. But things haven't turned out as expected...
For example, in the Syrian issue, since 2011, the US has been in conflict with Russia, and the ultimate outcome has clearly not been favorable to Washington. The Washington Post argues that, to some extent, the firepower that the US has deployed in and around Syria – technically speaking – is superior to that of Russia.
However, Russia not only succeeded in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad maintain his position but also enhanced its image, prestige, and influence throughout the region.
According to the American newspaper, Russian President Vladimir Putin achieved these successes not because he deployed better weapons than the US in the Middle East, but because he demonstrated superior political talent in the region and applied shrewd diplomacy through a series of limited military actions.
