[nathanbedford]

You do know that Putin’s actions are more of a provocation towards the USA and testing its mettle than any other entity on the globe, I hope. Certainly not the European Union, whom they don’t regard as a threat (yet). That’s an incursion on our national interests.

Putin is occupying portions of Ukraine, not the USA or any known treaty partner of the USA with whom we have an obligation to defend. It is the European Union, if anybody, who has been provoked. Their putative deal with Ukraine was subverted by Vladimir and Ukraine is part of Europe, not North America.

My little village just finished spending a lot of money which it has because we happen to be sitting on huge caverns filled with Russian gas. The provocation may be directed to Germany and those countries in Europe which will freeze next winter if they don't get the gas. I burn a lot of wood and America has its own gas.

I do not understand America to be provoked by Vladimir Putin after Obama has humiliated us in the eyes of the whole world and made us seem a pushover for Putin. I count national interests on a more profound scale.

[Olog-hai]

The humiliation is the impetus for the provocation. And all that has been done in response is more humiliation.