Every American president since the end of the Chilly War has needed better relations with Russia. But each provides seen relations get worse by the time he left office. Now both countries are facing off within a virtual war being fought without obvious goals or boundaries.

Why? Many say it is because Washington has been slow to wake up to Russian efforts to destroy democracy in America and the globe.

But a former head of Russia analysis in the CIA says that misunderstands the issue. George Beebe argues that fresh game-changing technologies, disappearing rules of the game, and distorted perceptions on both sides are merging to lock Washington and Moscow into an escalatory spiral that they don’t recognize. All of the pieces are in place for a World Battle I-type tragedy that could be triggered by a little, unstable event. The Russia Capture demonstrates anticipating this danger is the most important step in preventing it.