[Mariner]

“So if Putin chooses to respond in a few days, a week or a month from now your theory is kaput?”

ONLY if he engages US forces directly.

Which he will not do. Certainly not with flagged Russian forces.

[Parley Baer]

“So if Putin chooses to respond in a few days, a week or a month from now your theory is kaput?”
ONLY if he engages US forces directly.
Which he will not do. Certainly not with flagged Russian forces.”

Exactly. 300 Russian mercenaries found that out the hard way.

[JonPreston]

ONLY if he (Putin) engages US forces directly.

You stated in #11, nothing was accomplished so why risk a Russian reaction at all?