[McGruff]

I wonder why things have escalated to this level? Because of Ukraine?

[Starboard]

I wonder why things have escalated to this level? Because of Ukraine?

************

Putin back in power, Russian oil, Ukraine, desire to reconstitute the Soviet empire, and perhaps most important of all, pathetically weak leadership in the U.S. and Europe.

[Zhang Fei]

I wonder why things have escalated to this level? Because of Ukraine?

The Russians were doing this long before Ukraine. Ultimately, Putin is looking to reconstitute the Soviet empire (including the Warsaw Pact) and perhaps expand beyond that). I don't think he's motivated by money. It's like mountain-climbing - people climb them for the thrill of it. The Russians are a lot like the pre-war Germans - they feel they weren't truly defeated and want a rematch. While it would be nice if Russia turned its attentions to China, and they wiped each other out, the unfortunate reality is that Russian animosity is mainly directed at the West, which outlasted the Soviet empire.

[ScottinVA]

I wonder why things have escalated to this level? Because of Ukraine?

Ukraine is a symptom of the overall problem, which is America's abdicating a leadership role in the world. Putin readily filled the vacuum created by Obama's abject weakness.