“Stop Russia”, in the abstract, is not a US interest on any level. It’s nothing but passion and emotion. And it’s for children who don’t understand the world.
Only when/if they impinge on a real US interest should we “stop” them. And we have a boatload of real interests $$ in the original members of NATO. Just like we have a big boatload of real interests $$ in the Pacific theater.
We have virtually NONE in the new NATO members.
And absolutely zero in Ukraine.
>>“Stop Russia”, in the abstract, is not a US interest on any level.
There’s nothing abstract about Russia annexing Ukraine. Such a move puts them that much closer to NATO countries with whom we have mutual defense agreements and treaty obligations. Clearly our interests are better served if Ukraine remains independent. That’s not emotion, that’s pragmatism. And that doesn’t mean we should get into a head to head war with Russia over it, but we should use whatever influence we have to secure that outcome if we can.
If we’re unsuccessful, we’ll survive, but it just means we’ll have to deal with a stronger, more expansionist minded Russia next time. And BTW, if we’re successful in brokering an outcome where Ukraine’s independence remains intact, RUSSIA will survive. Maybe Putin won’t, but Russia will.