I wonder if Western Europe will cut it's use of natural gas and stop importing gas from Russia? Remember Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine in the cold of winter.

London will close it's stores to the millions of dollars Russians spend on shopping sprees? Spain could stop selling villas to Russian billionaires.

Russia or not
You can not trust people in politics
America has a nasty past through History
Nothing to BRAG about

It's my understanding that the Russian economy is week, and that they need dollars. If that being the case, gas supplies will continue. Putin has reestablished old fears of the "cold war" and can no longer be trusted. He alone has weekend his standing and the integrity of the Russian people. Russians need to stand up and voice their opinion now. When will Eastern countries understand the West only wants to build a democratic unity to help all of mankind.

slowly, ever so slowly, the west is waking up to the russian-putin bear. This may not be the moment, but it is coming when the west decides russia is best left out in the cold until they shape up.

and so it goes.

I heard that the Russians "denounced" NATO in a recent meeting in Moscow.

Yes, it is coming. First a few dances and spats, but then it will be over. If the price of oil and gas drops, Russia gets hurt, badly.

I will conserve for that goal.

I admit, reading about Russia and the things they've been doing over the past year is a little scary. This whole fiasco seems like Russia is using a weak excuse to start a war. And for Russia, if they want to rule the world, there is no time like now. Our troops are spread thin, in a war that has the citizens in an uproar. A new president is about to be elected, and neither candidate is worth much.

Scary.

Russia doesn't want to rule the world. They just want respect. They used to be feared by the world, but americans have basically ignored them for the past 15 years, while we stress over the middle east and China. Putin loves being "The Bear" if it means we're scared enough of him to put him on the front page. From what I've heard, the Russian people agree with him, because it bolsters their nationalist pride--for the same reason, there are a *lot* of americans who like having the world afraid of us.

I'm glad we're letting EU and NATO take the lead on this; we may not agree with them 100%, but if it turned into U.S. vs. Russia unilaterally, things would get very bad very quickly.

Pete, Russia is the world's second largest oil producer. Then, they have diamonds, gold, titanium and other metals. Russia doesn't have to support counties in Eastern Europe any longer. We still pay to defend Japan.

It should be scary. Russia is exploiting our weakness. Right or wrong; this has sent a message America power in in decline.

So now they have POW's? When did that happen? I thought we could trust the Russian's?

The EU does not have the "testicular fortitude" to deal with Russia or any other threat for that matter. Just look at Europe's history...they'd much rather see the U.S. intervene, shed U.S. blood and expend U.S. treasure. Europe then has the option of Monday morning quarterback-style whining along with the other pacifists about how big of a bully the U.S. is for handling the threats. No country realizes that more than Russia. Although largely a thugish gang of drunks, the Russian army is well equipped, thanks to enrichment from our petro-dollars.

Russia's judgment days are coming, these being: 1) when the U.S. places anti-missle installations in Poland, and 2) when (not if but when) Israel takes out the Iranian nuclear threat.

Even Russia has its limits - they have a large country's territory to protect. Even their army of drunks can be stretched too this as well.

The Geopolitical World is definitely changing Poles, from “A Polar” to “Bi Polar”, and maybe in the future to “Multi Polar”. That means we are moving from a “DICTAT” to “DIALOGUE”, and maybe in the future to the “CONVERSATION”.