In all fairness, if you go back to before the communists, the Czars were just as obnoxious. It was called “The Great Game” and even Kipling wrote about it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Game
Even the US participated in it a bit, just two years after our civil war, with the Alaska purchase. The Brits were all in favor, as it cut off the Czar from North America, and anything that limited his reach was good as far as they were concerned.
The point is to not to confuse the essence of the Soviet state (current Russia) with the United States or even with pre-bolsheviks Russia. Not a form (i.e. Great Game) determines the outcome but architects (players). Bolshevik system is unique in its hostility towards humanity, personal liberties and republic. Bolsheviks designed the plan to destroy the West out of hatred (vide: Soviet plans of nuclear destruction of major European capitals). So the Great Game may be a part of current political scenario, I agree, but this article discusses primarily players rather than the game. Especially great game.