I don't think even THIS POTUS wants a military confrontation with Russia.
The problem is that this POTUS and his cronies think they can bully and bluff Russia before they have even put up ante.
Without a couple of Armored Divisions in BOTH Germany and Poland, and a couple of combat brigades in both Austria and the Czech Republic...not to mention an Air Wing or two...Russia knows they don't even have to factor the US Military into their planning.
It's VERY dangerous for the Sheriff to stand in the middle of the square bragging on what he's gonna do to those outlaws when he catches up to them. Unarmed.
And nothing but a cold wind at his back.
Well stated. That is my BIG PROBLEM here. We seem to tweak Russia, and keep tweaking them, and yet have NOTHING other than maybe an LGBT Brigade to back up our taunts.
We really should decide ONE PATH. Either we confront Russia at her borders, and bring in the military and hardware needed (i.e., just about double our defense spending, so that we’re back at Cold War strength in Europe), or see what Russia REALLY WANTS and decide if we can live with it (perhaps they’re happy with a piece of Ukraine and some deal with the Baltics, and no ABMs in Eastern Europe...maybe that ends things for them).
In the long term, I am MUCH MORE worried about China, and I suspect that Russia is just as worried, if not more worried.