The notion that the United States will intervene in a region where Russia has overwhelming land and air superiority is a brain-addled fantasy. We will not.

However, the move by Putin makes action in the Carribean or, much more likely, the Iranian theater astronomically more likely. Russia moves and gobbles up part of one of our clients. We counter by moving forward in a sustained bombing campaign against the Iranians, possibly with the use of tactical nuclear weapons by the Israelis.

The Russians and the Chinese would be deeply impressed.

Bush has nothing to lose. Now is not a good time to be a Persian.