Dan, regarding Georgia—what do you expect Russia to do when NATO expands without consultation or veto powers in their former republics? Wouldn’t the US engage in similar activities if the Russian’s started building military bases in say, Mexico or the Bahamas? I’m trying to dispel this notion that the EU and NATO are worth starting WW3 over. Last I checked every time a US Soldier died in Afghanistan it was labeled a “NATO Soldier.” It is painfully obvious that the Socialists and the EU in general are looking for cheap labor and they are expanding their aims through eastern bloc countries. By supporting a coup in Ukraine and then expanding it into a conflict with Russia they hope to attract NATO military assistance which amounts to US involvement. You can support the Kiev government all day long—I’m just trying to offer a differing perspective and view point. I don’t think Putin is absent from criticism and from being labeled a criminal; but, I do think that our blind support for the ultra-left that has taken hold in Europe is not worth sending our women to fight for. Yes, our women. The US Military seems to think that putting our daughters and sisters on the front lines and in combat units is a great idea. That will be who we send to take on hardened Russian combat vets if war does break out. This arming of Ukraine is a serious escalation and I’m not so certain that the conservatives in this country have thought this out. President Obama has been in conflict with Russia since day one. Vladimir claims to be a reformed Christian and rejects the notion of state sanctioned homosexuality. Mr. Putin also has stayed steadfast in his support for Assad while we supported the rebels— I don’t think I need to bring up any more screw-ups with our foreign policy in both Libya and Syria as they now speak for themselves. I think if we support the Kiev Govt, we are overtly supporting leftist ideals in Europe and of course the US taxpayer and the US Military will be the tools to bail them out of a conflict with Russia.
Russia sees the world through a lens of power. The people of the United States tend to see the world through a lens of freedom. Georgia had a reason to want to ally itself to Europe, Nato, and the United States, the history of oppression by Russia. Most Americans believe that they should be free to do so. The same for Ukraine. Should Russia have a veto power over it's former vassal states? Why, Nato is not an invasion threat to Russia. The last six years have been a tragedy for the United States leadership of the free world. Russia sees our weakness and intends to capitalize on it. I see it argued that we should bend our principles and let Russia have it's way with it's neighbors, after all we don't want to incite a war. Isn't that exactly what happened with Czechoslovakia when Britain and France sacrificed it to Nazi Germany in 1938? Where do we draw the line? We have to suffer through the rest of this foolish administration, but the American people have already seen what a mistake it was to trust Obama. We can only get our house back in order by championing our principles, that people should be free to choose their own way.