You speak of the Soviet era as if it is over...
I am sure Putin would think twice about such a move if Ted Cruz or hell, even McCain was at the helm.
The White House phone is ringing and going unanswered
If McCain was at the helm, we’d be fighting wars with half the countries in the world. He’d be bombing the Swaziland presidential palace.
And the critical US interest for war with Russia, to evict them from Sevastopol,,,, is? Retaining access to the Holy lands?
Are you people insane? And to support McCains Ukrainian Nazi party?
Not really.
How could we project power there? Run a carrier group into the Black Sea (which we can’t due to treaties)?
“I am sure Putin would think twice about such a move if Ted Cruz or hell, even McCain was at the helm.”
No Vlad has been itching to do this for years now. He got part of Georgia and now he will settle for part of the Ukraine. He was always going to do this.