If the stories of a darker world of blackmail, extortion, blood rituals, are true, there is a horrific undercurrent of organized crime behind and beneath these never ending wars.

Making my analogy of a legion of Nosferatus pretty accurate.

Yes, they would use the wealth of nations to run the wars, but all of the "wealth" is created in large measure by debt. Easily seen by the balance sheets of the US and EU today. So there is massive profit to be gained by lending to both sides.

However in this case, Russia is not borrowing from anyone, it has almost no debt at all. Sits on a great deal of gold, and is starting a new world currency as well. So for those who say Russia is in the game, I don't think it is. China may be, but China is not Russia.

Yes the oligarchs may know who the prime movers are, but they may not, or not know them all. Putin with his KGB background probably knows as much as anyone. Probably why he is so very cautious, for he is taking on the likes of Saron isn't he.