I don’t disagree with your thoughts here. I particularly do agree with the comment about ‘a Reagan at the helm’.
First of all, our global stature would still be in tact. Our military would not be in the condition it seems to be in right now.
Reagan would have at the very least called for a summit between major players in the West, and would have left no illusions about what any further actions from Russia could very likely result in.
Putin toys with Obama like a cat would a mouse. Europe is adrift. I don’t see Putin going super crazy on us, but he is going to be adventuresome. Who’s to stop the guy now.
The West is in total disarray.
Reagan would have sat down with the Russians and told them “This is what we want, what is it that you want.” And together we would have worked through it. We have interests, they have interests, and they don’t necessarily have to conflict with one another.