I realise that most Americans don't reflect on this type of stuff at all, or they just make the assumption that she outlined, or they accept the version of events as presented in US media.
I'd say more. The "Russians" (i.e. soviet people) were the same in those times. "We are big, we can, it makes sense. Therefore, we will do ..." The way of thinking changes, when your country turns into smaller , non-powerful one.