Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Could Russia handle a “forever war" with the U.S.?
“It is baked into Russian military doctrine that the biggest problem they have isn't day one of the war. … It's day 60 of the war because the United States has shown itself capable of conducting operations on a global scale for months and even years, and it's that staying power of the American industrial base, of the Pentagon,” Celeste Wallander, former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs told host Nick Schifrin.
She noted that U.S. strength comes from that massive and interconnected effort that "knows how to ramp up and and put together the puzzle of how to sustain" a long campaign abroad.
“The Kremlin is afraid of a forever war against the United States because they lose,” Wallander said.
Compass Points from PBS News analyzes prominent international affairs topics and America’s role in a shifting world, breaking down global conflicts, rising tensions, and their implications for U.S. interests. Visit the PBS News website to watch this week's episode.
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Could Russia handle a “forever war" with the U.S.?
“It is baked into Russian military doctrine that the biggest problem they have isn't day one of the war. … It's day 60 of the war because the United States has shown itself capable of conducting operations on a global scale for months and even years, and it's that staying power of the American industrial base, of the Pentagon,” Celeste Wallander, former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs told host Nick Schifrin.
She noted that U.S. strength comes from that massive and interconnected effort that "knows how to ramp up and and put together the puzzle of how to sustain" a long campaign abroad.
“The Kremlin is afraid of a forever war against the United States because they lose,” Wallander said.
Compass Points from PBS News analyzes prominent international affairs topics and America’s role in a shifting world, breaking down global conflicts, rising tensions, and their implications for U.S. interests. Visit the PBS News website to watch this week's episode.
Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show.
Sign up for Here's The Deal with Lisa Desjardins: to.pbs.org/41q6E8i
Subscribe for exclusive content in our newsletters: pbs.org/newshour/subscribe
PBS News podcasts: pbs.org/newshour/podcasts
Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG
Find more from PBS News at pbs.org/newshour
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/2HfsCD6
Follow us:
TikTok: tiktok.com/@pbsnews
X: twitter.com/newshour
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