The only desperation is that of Wall Street & co who might have come to the conclusion that once money no longer can pay what is wanted (due to depletion for instance), bodyguards and similar workers will have come to the conclusion that robbing their employers delivers a higher return on investment than a life of guarding against the masses. IOW once the basis of money (water, food, energy etc.) is affected, money itself loses its value.

That type of anarchy still can be prevented by full support of the “occupy …” movement. There are enough capable people in the fields of science, engineering, ecological economy who can lead the change to a post-oil society, once the corrupt clique has been brought to justice.

History doesn’t apply because no previous empire had to face depletion of a permanent kind: issues like famine due to bad agricultural policies (like deforestation-induced drought) were temporary. This time it’s different.

Lavrov, being far better educated than Obama, not only knows that too but also is able to realize that when, after allowing the illegal wars on Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya and finally Iran, Russia will be next: the missile screen to prevent retaliation from Russia, after a US first nuclear strike, is under construction. And if the screen doesn’t work as promised, destruction of European countries (EU) is an advantage because it eliminates a competitor for resources while creating a wasteland that can be heavily indebted for reconstruction (again). So from a US perspective, waging war is a win / win situation.