Russia seem inclined to revise the terms and conditions of the international system in their neck of the woods by a very different set of rules than by which the U.S. is playing in regards to trying to maintain the status quo of the system. What is to be done, then, about Ukraine? First of all, it remains unclear whether taking the Crimea is the end-state or whether this is meant as a measure to galvanize the pro-Russian elements of the east part of the country to break off. Regardless, the situation has now reached a point where actions will speak louder than words. This does not mean that military action should be considered at all at this time aside from having forces continue to conduct routine presence and exercises in eastern Europe, but the diplomatic, economic, informational and intelligence tools at our disposal should start to be applied in various combinations to begin to show that there will be costs for revising, by force, the map. Allowing such revisions to continue apace likely will continue a perception that there are no costs to be paid for playing by the new rules of the system and others will start to mimic such actions when they feel that they can.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 01:01:26 +0000
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