Hmm. So you use it as a justification? I do not think that the above fact is something Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney are proud of or like to be reminded about.
No, it's irrelevant. What matters is that they're right, not whether or not they fought in a war.
Btw, why would you be upset that New Europe might stand in the way of closer ties between Russia and the EU? Do you want Russia to be integrated closer with the EU? One of the reasons I supported Yuschchenko in Ukraine was because I knew it would drive a wedge between Russia and Europe. It looks like I was right.