Standing up to Russia and defending democracy and the right of

[RB TexLa]

a sovereign nation to self determination is the most important thing Biden will do as president.

NATO and the principles that it stands for have to count when it comes time to put boots on the ground. It's even more important that we show our European allies that we are still a full member of the alliance that has kept Europe free and free of war for over 70 years. They have to know we will not just issue sanctions and give arms, they have to know we will sacrifice blood and lives.

[Hoyt]

1. Not quite ready to start beating war drums. But don't discount seriousness.

[stopdiggin]

2. quite a few military hawks popping up on DU

just in the past several days.

Oh, and by the way, Ukraine is not a member of NATO - and, to my knowledge, no other NATO state is advocating direct military action w/ regards to Russia. So, the suggestion that the U.S. is a laggard or not holding up their end on the defense pact - is just flatly mistaken. You might want to back up a few paces and take another run at it.

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[RB TexLa]

3. Here

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-troops-belarus-pose-direct-threat-lithuania-defence-minister-2022-01-19/

[stopdiggin]

4. thanks for the link

which, upon reading, appears to confirm just exactly what I said. Nobody is at all happy with Russia these days. And virtually nobody is prepared to go to war over the Ukraine.

And this would appear to be the rather classic case - where NATO members that are closer to the source, should be the ones taking the lead and setting the tone. (with full U.S. backing of course) It looks to me like the U.S. response here has been about all that we might want - or that is in fact particularly helpful.