This war is the most significant event in the FSU since the fall of communism and America’s reputation as an “ally” is clearly at stake. We need a lot more than the empty platitudes that have been heard so far out of Washington. Of course, most of our fellow “Americans” aren’t even paying any attention, many who are are completely confused by the name “Georgia” (”do they have an ‘Alabama’ or ‘Ohio’ over there, too?!?!? Weird!!!!”), and most of the rest simply shrug and say “Hey, what time is ‘American Idol’ on…?”

Good thing, we’ll soon have President Obama. He’ll fly to Moscow and give “Vlad the Impaler” a good talking-to. Then he can fly home, happily wave a piece of paper, and declare “peace in our time.” There will be much rejoicing.

If I was a Ukrainian patriot living in Kiev, I don’t think I’d be sleeping at night very well these days.

People everywhere need to stop trying to take Russia seriously as a reputable nation. It’s a bully country, run by and for bullies, and has been throughout its history (Tsar, Soviets, it doesn’t matter). Its rulers have never been able to understand the difference between raw power, exercised recklessly, and earned influence and respect. The last time the bully took a bloody nose that moderated its behavior (even if not permanently) was the one it took from the British and the French in the Crimea in the mid-1850s. It’s due for another.

Spiff