Brian, the Afghanistan and Iraq (the second, not Kuwait) wars were enormously costly. Not just in money and blood. The American "public reserve" for such actions was squandered.

And so now when action really is required, such as in Ukraine, we have already spent that "public" capital. A demonstration of this was Syria where we should (or had the choice) of entering. Obama could not because of public opinion and Putin took over and we have Syria as it is now.

We were "off the hook" with Ukraine because it's not part of NATO. But it thrusts the question in our faces. Would the U.S. come to the defense of Estonia or Romania (both NATO members as if an attack on America. This is a question all Americans should be asking themselves again now.

The answer needs to be an iniquiviable yes.

Many thanks. Best to you.