I said we should build up our forces in friendly nation’s in the area and support these nations with massive air power and modern weapons. It wouldn’t start WW3 unless the Russians were the ones who escalated it. But they wouldn’t because they aren’t strong enough to take the risk that would be involved to counter that type of air power. They would be forced back into Russia and would have little other options other than arming our enemies and helping them in other ways which they are already doing.
They aren’t going to ever use nukes first because they aren’t suicidal and if we don’t attack them on Russian soil then they won’t escalate it because they can’t win and they know it. Attacking Russia outside of Russia will not cause WW3.
That is a huge risk and gamble. It costs money and lots of it. Think of the cost of re-establishing the U.S. Armed Forces back to the Cold War establishment? You, and many others, are under the impression that the Soviet Empire is on the rampage again and seeking to occupy every state that broke away. No U.S. administration is going to order U.S. forces into direct confrontation with Russian forces in such situations because of the risk of escalation. It is a game of stand-off and it always has been.
You posted a link to John McCain. I haven’t followed his stance on such matters. If John McCain is advocating such policies then take a step back. If John McCain was in President Bush’s shoes then he wouldn’t have reacted any differently over Georgia. The Cold War isn’t back and no where near it.