Quote Originally Posted by Dayuhan View Post
I'd be more curious about your suggestions for Obama. We can all see what the Russians are doing... since you're the expert on the field here, what exactly do you think the US response should be?

Personally, I don't see many options beyond what's already being done: focus on economic pressure, work in concert with Europe as much as possible, and apply gradually escalating sanctions. Not ideal by any means, but who has a better (and realistic) proposal?
One understands that US options are limited due to the reticence of EU countries to act - especially Germany - where some economic scrifice is required in so doing. But the US inability to 'influence' EU countries to act more decisively is an indication of the steady implosion of US power and influence... which Putin has realised and is exploiting.

All that said their is serious doubt that the US would have acted decisively anyway. Obama has serious limitations but when one looks at Kerry one can only be horrified how close it was that he became president. Anyone watching China?