Fighting between the Russian Federation and Republic of Georgia appears to be winding down. As Russia consolidates its gains in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, it’s time to consider appropriate and proportional responses to Russia’s violation of Georgia’s sovereignty. -Move quickly and decisively to bring Georgia and Ukraine into the NATO alliance. This effectively limits Russia’s sphere of influence to its gains in northern Georgia, restores the trust of the Georgian people who feel betrayed by the United States, and protects the Ukraine against further Russian aggression. -Disband the G-8, form a G-7 sans Russia. -Reform the US military presence in Europe. Deploy F-22 Raptors to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and Spangleheim Air Base in Germany, move US Army units east into Poland, schedule regular Navy port calls to the Baltic states. Immediately field missile defense units in Poland and the Czech Republic, and give Poland all of the air defense artillery batteries that they have requested. Stand up a Black Sea naval squadron in Romania and bulk up the Sixth Fleet. This type of stability worked for 50 years during the Cold War, and it can certainly work again in the 21st century. -Terminate joint Russian-NATO military exercises. Instead, emphasize exercises with the former Warsaw Pact states, particularly those who aspire to join the NATO alliance. -Rebuild Georgia, both economically and militarily. Per Max Boot, send them Stinger and Javelin missiles… but also consider selling them F-15s and F-16s on the cheap, as we slowly replace our inventories with the F-22 and F-35. Invite Georgian soldiers to conduct exercises at the Army’s National Training Center in California and Fort Polk’s Joint Readiness and Training Center in Louisiana. Figure out why the Georgians collapsed so quickly under the Russian assault, and work to ensure that they are combat ready in the event Russia decides to push south to Turkey. Russia has forced the free nations of the west to face a hard truth: we can not continue to foster open, democratic societies in the former eastern bloc on the cheap. Like the Cold War, halting the advance of Russian totalitarianism will take fierce American determinism. Either we accept that tough path in front of us, or surrender the dreams of free nations to the hungry Russian bear.
