In this post on responding to Russia even as Russian forces were confronting Georgian forces, I said:
NATO membership and the ability to fight an invasion are the correct lessons to digest.
As time passes, it is possible that Russia's invasion of Georgia will lead those ex-Soviet colonies that seek our friendship to rethink their position and cave to Russian demands. Which is why the months and years ahead will be crucial to making sure that these countries can count on our friendship and their own military to keep the bear at bay.
Of course, even if we had a good reputation, Ukraine isn't in NATO and Ukraine didn't have a military capable of quickly fighting an invasion force. Even setting aside the chaos of a post-Yanukovich government, Ukraine's military was in poor shape. We should at least help with that.
And we need to work on our allies in the months and years ahead in the aftermath of Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. Right now they have to look to us as the only game in town. But as time passes, they may reconsider their options if they believe we aren't reliable.
Would Europe really be a better place if Russia gains allies at our expense or if countries that don't wish to buckle to Russian demands go nuclear to avoid de-nuclearized Ukraine's plight?
