
<p>I will understand that the overwhelming sentiment is that under no circumstances should we risk having American or NATO military confront the Russian military. ; The theory – or at least the fear – is that it would kick off a worldwide nuclear war.</p>



<p>As long as that is the mindset, does that mean that Russian saber-rattling paves the way for Putin’s endless wars of conquest? ; Is there no time that the free world will stand up to the Madman of Moscow in a more fundamental way?</p>



<p>Would the imposition of a no-fly zone over Ukraine – even shooting down a few Russian planes if they violate the airspace &#8212; cause Putin to launch a mutually destructive nuclear attack on Ukraine … Europe … the United States? ; If he did, it would certainly be the end of his dream of a pan-world Russian empire – and the end of him.</p>



<p>If we did come into conflict with Russian military, it would not be the first time – and it did not trigger a nuclear war in the past. ; It did not even trigger much of a reaction.</p>



<p>There were two incidents in Syria that are revelatory. ; You should recall when Russian generals ordered American planes out of Syrian air space – a no-fly zone, as it were. ; We rejected the demand and maintained flying.</p>



<p>There was also a time when American forces were attacked in Syria by a Russian unit. ; In that case, the American military wiped out the Russian unit. ; There was hardly a stir in the diplomatic community – and no threats of nuclear warfare.</p>



<p>We also had an incident when Libya claimed more than a three-mile limit into the Mediterranean Sea. ; When Libya sent fighter jets to challenge American ships inside the claimed 10-mile zone, President Reagan ordered the planes to be shot down. ; What was significant is that Russian pilots were often flying those jets for Libya and there was no way to tell if they were in those targeted planes.</p>



<p>In a conversation I later had with the Russian ambassador, the fact that Reagan was willing to take out the menace regardless, sent a chill through the Kremlin leadership. ; Rather than threats of nuclear war, the Russians became more restrained for a while.</p>



<p>I am not recommending a no-fly zone – or that we should not carefully consider any ramifications of a military confrontation with Russia. ; But I do believe that we must do everything possible to ensure that Putin does not win his war on Ukraine – not even temporarily.</p>



<p>In return for giving up their nuclear capabilities – the only nation ever to do so – we promised the people of Ukraine that we would protect their interests from the Russian bear. ; Obviously, we are failing to keep that promise.</p>



<p>There is every reason to believe that any measure of Russian success in Ukraine will only embolden Putin’s ambition to re-take more of the old Soviet Union. ; At some point, we are going to have to determine that NOT confronting Putin is greater than the risk of confrontation.</p>



<p>That time should have been when he invaded Georgia … or took the Crimea. ; This is not his first invasion of Ukraine – albeit his most aggressive. ; The world cannot always let the threat – the intimidation – of a nuclear response allow Putin to continue grab of independent democratic nations like Minnesota Fats would run a pool table.</p>



<p>I do not really have an answer to the headline question, but I do think acquiescence under Putin’s threats is not working – and will not work.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Can We Afford NOT To Confront Putin Militarily?
