Could both Putin and Trump be attempting to deceive others that they are weak, and unable to conduct a major war?

For western European leaders, and their military strategists, has Putin presented them a major psy-ops picture of Russia's capabilities?

Yes, they are aware of Russia's potential nuclear capabilities, but could they have come to the conclusion that Russia could not storm a land invasion of Europe?

They have watched Russia initially perform utterly unable to quickly defeat Ukraine, and to take Kiev.

Then they have watched Russia's army slowly diminish in a 4 year, not too unlike the WWI style trench warfare standoff, losing a significant number of men.

Then they have watched Ukraine emerge as technologically sophisticated in the development and deployment of drone warfare.

So, now, possibly in the eyes of western European nations, Russia's military is significantly in a worse state than when they had to pull out of Afghanistan, in the mid 80's.

Either Putin is the absolute worst leader, militarily, that Russia has had, while surviving wide-scale discontent of the people & coup attempts, or he is a psy-ops strategist.

A similar tactic was used once, by another country, with old uniforms, equipment, and horses, so that the army appeared ready for the taking.

When the decoy troops were attacked, the real army, came in from the two sides, to overwhelm the forces that were attacking the decoy.

Is there an outside chance that Putin is attempting to deceive some western European nations into doing something?

Not necessarily to attack them invoking article 5, but to bring them within Russia's sphere of influence, economically & politically, from that time forward?

Also, could president Trump be deceiving Iran, to where he looks desperate to make a deal prior to the midterms?

Additionally, that he may be appearing to be at odds with prime minister Netanyahu, dividing the once strong alliance of the US & Israel?

Could there even be a lot of apparent antisemitic protests all over the US, yet not from the left, but designed to deceive Iran into thinking that the entire country has turned against Israel & the Jews?

If so, then perhaps Iran, in desperation, may make a strategic move, that in itself may be very effective, but may backfire by knocking over well placed streams of dominoes?

To where the US congress would support the president, maybe even declaring war, and where all the surrounding middle eastern nations would be in on it?

Then with a series of multi-front assaults, from air, land, and sea, the IRGC would be fighting all over the place.

At that time, could those Iranians, who have been slowly armed, prepared, and trained by Israeli & US intelligence, rise up suddenly, across the country?

Presenting a defeat as well conducted as when Joshua took Ai?

For these to be effective, it would take a massive propaganda effort, which those of the world's media & news apparatchik, have been gleefully doing, as they, themselves, have been deceived? 

Or is this all wishful thinking on my part, with both Putin & Trump actually being the way they currently appear?

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