Konyok – RE the conventional forces, I’ll leave that to the “big brains” but the simplest first cut seems to be convention, nuclear, or incrementalism of The Long War. What I do know with my average-size brain is that military defense is an absolute requirement in this century – in the context of the “soft power” advocates who – I interpret – thought that the arms could be quietly phased out.

Not quite yet.

The deeply ironic contrast between the “what is old is new again” theme coming out of the Baltics with the focus on negotiated solutions to conflict resolution. I do not oppose the conference table option but have enough memory of history to be deeply skeptical of the efficacy. The first post-war generation has no stomach for fight – the shadows of memory being long and deep. The second generation thinks the need has been removed. The third generation … is shocked to discover that there is drinking in this bar. Shocked.