Thanks to all [I spent an hour+ condensing my thoughts...wordy is easy, terse is hard].

Ic: I understand the risks, trust me on this one. I’m from a different era, the USSR was the primary foe and we studied hard; for me it was both professional and personal. My father escaped the DDR and I’m a first-generation American. I don’t hate the Russians, far from it…I pity them. By and large they’re fine people [if a little xenophobic...] in a beautiful, rich country with the ill fortune to be usually ruled either by thugs, madmen or fools. There have been bright lights in their past, but they’ve never lasted more than generation, if that long.

That being said, the Russian Federation is now an enemy state and should be treated as such. My off the cuff solution was as minimal as possible, hence the B-2s. The 82nd was to be a line in the sand; alas the Russians are massing unmolested. Unfortunately, too many players are thinking talk will provide a solution; for the current situation talk is worthless. I have, I think, a good sense of the Russia we now face: it is an autocratic, aggressive state with a poorly glued on smiley face. I could go on for a good while with my opinions and analysis…but this isn’t the time, nor the place.

Just know this: the coming decade will be one of challenge and peril. Poor choices will lead to disaster and darkness you can scarce imagine. Through my parents memories, I know how bad things can get; pray you don’t find out.