Mark, if Russia is invading its neighbors, and the US is afraid to do anything about it because of nukes, then we’re already in Cold War II. There’s nothing to do to avoid that, because it only takes one side to start a war, and Russia has. We have at least two choices:
1. Take Georgia back by force. Not gonna happen though; where would we get the troops?
2. Containment II. But this time maybe Poland and Ukraine can be on our side of the Iron Curtain. Move Ramstein AFB to Poland and the Sixth Fleet to Crimea. Modify NATO to a unified-EU command and military structure, with EU troops forming its corp and supported by US and UK Fleet. EU/NATO troops (not separate French and Italian regiments) would then establish the EU’s borders with Russia.
Once contained with hard power we can try other “soft power” means of reforming Russia from within until it voluntarily chooses to join the “community of nations” that peacefully engage in trade and development.
