In 1962 the US risked a nuclear war when the Soviets wanted to base nuclear weapons in Cuba, and there you have an island with 90 miles of water between us: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis
In 1983 we invaded Grenada, because they were building a runway on this island 1,280 miles from Florida, which could accommodate Soviet bombers and heavy transports: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Grenada
What folks like him want to do is pretend away the severity of what we were doing.
We would NEVER accept what we were expecting Russia to accept, (((not even today.)))
No major power accepts another playing on their border, and even we tread lightly regards Taiwan.
-—We unilaterally decided to bring Ukraine into NATO: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-president-zelenskiy-holding-talks-with-biden-adviser-says-2021-12-09/
-—We did this without any willingness to negotiate any sort of limitations on what we can base there.
-—Then we fast tracked their admission.
-—And we refused to talk to the Russians about this in earnest.
What more is there to say?
During the Cold War we had the USSR practically surrounded. We were in their backyard. We had the Monroe Doctrine since 1820 IIRC.
Well said.
They keep pushing because they want a war. That’s all it is.