[SoConPubbie]

So what does Cruz expect? Putin will withdraw from the Ukraine because we threaten to put missile in Europe? And what makes him think the Europeans will play along with escalating the situation? It seems like an empty, expensive threat to me.

I'm pretty sure Putin (and Russia by extension) will look at the placement of missiles in country on their border as most sane people would.

If you attempt to take these countries or violate their borders, there will be a price.

Much as Reagan did with the USSR. He built up our defensive and offensive capabilities, and yes it was expensive, but it force Russia to do the same and it bankrupted them and their Evil Empire fell.

It sends a message.

But you know that, it's just your Libertarian, head-in-the-sand politics that keep you from saying it.

[dfwgator]

Then Russia puts more missiles in Cuba.

Who are we to stop them? If we are doing the exact same thing?

[DoodleDawg]

Much as Reagan did with the USSR. He built up our defensive and offensive capabilities, and yes it was expensive, but it force Russia to do the same and it bankrupted them and their Evil Empire fell.

But he did it with the rest of NATO in lock step with him. He had the full support of our allies. Cruz will not. Europe doesn't want the missile system, Cruz isn't going to change that. They will not put forth dollar one to defend themselves from Russian missiles, and I'm not willing to spend billions to do it for them. So I'm sorry, pissing off Vladimir Putin is not enough to justify spending tens of billions of dollars on a missile defense system that will not make us one iota safer from Russian nukes.