There are indeed people who would profit from having a serious (as opposed to some terroist nutjobs without significant military or economic potential) enemy, these people are linked to the current US gouverment (not only the current one), a gouverment which certainly had a hand in provoking Russia during the last 8 years. I am not partisan here, Clinton certainly provoked them too, he merely was more diplomatic about it. And he had a bigger stick while doing it.
Sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory, but amongst other things, McCain will likely gain more votes if Russia continues to be perceived as aggressive.
Provocant question:
Did the US send S-Vili into his doom to make a republican election more likely?
I do not buy that they were "uninformed", between the American advisors, spyplanes, frequent visists etc, they likely knew what was going to happen.
If the Russians had enough intel to be able to react as quick as they did, the US should have had that, and very likely more (easier to spy on allies) too.
The whole thing goes 2 ways, having McCain, whom Russians already perceive as a PTSD nutcase, as president of the USA would also unite the Russian people behind its current leadership.
Nothing unites countries better than a big, dangerous foreign enemy.
Its easily possible that funny conflict it Transnistria or wherever will pop whenever tensions die down or a less hawkish gouverment (on both sides) has a shot of taking power.