Russia

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 presented the West with an opportunity to bring Russia into the developed world as a legitimate trading partner. Russian natural resources were badly needed by Europe and East Asia. It would have been something along the lines of the Marshall Plan. By offering trade deals along with low interest loans the US along with the European Union could have helped Russia get back on its feet. Today Russia would be aligned with the West, Europe would not be in an energy crisis and the new partnership between Russia and China would not be. The old cold war beliefs prevailed and neo cons tried to destroy the Russian economy. The sad part is if they succeed will someone worse than Putin take control or worse will the country become a fight between war lords who have nuclear weapons at their disposal. The only way to make up for these past mistakes is to negotiate a peace treaty and end the war.