Why would we not expect the Russians to assert their own version of a “Monroe Doctrine” in the Caucausus when we clearly will not tolerate Russian bombers or missiles in Cuba?

And yet we tolerate that Communist regime and respect Cuban sovereignty. The counter-argument of course is that once we did not, but that is
relatively ancient history. And the counter-argument to that argument is perhaps our first instinct was correct and we were right not to respect it all along.

It seems to me the Russian incursion will be justified by whatever conveniences can be found. My question is what keeps us from disposing of annoyances in our sphere–Chavez, for instance–in the manner the Russians seek to remove theirs? Is it weakness, a misplaced sense of decency; a little of both? Why should we not take the lesson, invade, and let the rest of the world scream bloody murder.