Putin never expected the “soft” West to sacrifice the oil and gas pipelines and the easy money gained through laundering Russian money through European banks.

Europeans have committed to serious sacrifices in order to defeat Putin.

First I give them credit for recognizing that they will pay a price. Second, I give them credit for being willing to pay that price. If you think we’re worried about losing elections in the US because of high gas prices, think how it must be for a German politician, knowing the German people will suffer.

Finally, I thank them for taking in (now) a million refugees, with more to come.

The West has softened since WWII and since the Cold War, but so have Russians. Do their soldiers and civilians have the stomach to kill their close cousins (ethnically and culturally?). This is far different from fighting invaders on your own turf.