Submitted by James Refalo PhD, Aug 16, 2008 19:53

The Russians leadership isn't concerned about sanctions, or world opinion. What they understand is substative resolve. Short of going to war, there are things we can do, both over the short and long run. 1) Immediately admit the Ukraine to NATO. We should also provide 2 Billion in military foriegn aid (that would double their defense budget, and money goes much further there than here. Russia's budget for example, is 35 billion. The funding is necessary to upgrade their aging ex-soviet tank force.) 2) Signal Japan that they are free to build a full sized (Nimitz sized) aircraft carrier, maybe two. We have been detouring them from quite some time, as a result we having to shoulder much of the defense burden for the region. At this point, they have been our ally for 50 years, I think we can trust them; and two additional carriers will provide a powerful counterweight against both Russian and Chinese adventurism. 3) The reason for Russia's belligerance is it's new found wealth driven by $100+ a barrel oil. Over the long run, we need complete energy indepence using any and every alternative: nuclear power, drilling, oil shale, wind, and biofuels (Jatropha look particularly promising as it is a complete substitute for diesel, costs $43 per barrel to produce, and can be grown on marginal land-- land on which nothing else can grow. But that will require us to shift from gas/ethanol powered vehicles to diesels.) 4) We need to get our financial house in order. Federal and private (you and me). The federal government has spent far to much since 2000, resulting in a badly depreciated dollar, high oil prices, and burgeoning foriegn debt (much of it helf by China.) Likewise the American consumer has become accustomed to living off of a credit card. Russia is well aware of our financial weakness, and it one of the reasons they have chosen this time to expand its empire; they know we can financially ill afford another war, and cannot afford turmoil in the oil markets. Russia is here for the long run, and they are enemy. We better start thinking strategically.

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