“It will cost America dearly if we fail.”

Not just America, to be sure.

Do we and our allies have the nerve to stand up to the Russians? The Russians have already shown that they’re impervious to rhetoric, and let’s face it, you take away rhetoric and the West (Europe especially) isn’t left with a whole lot.

It’s clear that the US can’t go this alone if we’re talking about actual armed confrontation, but are Germany, France & Co. willing to redirect their budgets from butter to guns? Or will they splutter as Tsar Vlad fattens up on smaller democracies?

Scary times ahead.