do people today understand what war with Russia would mean?

[Igel]

45. Invade whom? Or what?

Russia?

Sure, that would certainly lead to severe problems.

So is the choice between invading Russia and doing nothing?

Naw.

I don't know what I'd like to see happen, but I can imagine more scenarios.

Putting NATO or US troops on the border. Don't fire a shot. Don't try to "retake" ground. Just be there. What would Russia do--and if it did overrun American or NATO positions, would it be the US's fault? In other words, up the ante.

Or just sending troops and not saying where they are. Let the media do the reporting, but move them. Russia will be guessing where they are. But make it clear that if they're assaulted, which includes having Russian troops limit their freedom of movement or communication, they will defend themselves. Up the ante, but not so much.

Sending supplies to Ukraine. We do it for Syrian rebels in an armed insurgency against a leader considered legitimate until there was a more appealing alternative. Why not to Ukraine?

Except in this case make the supplies nifty Stingers and Patriot batteries, tanks and fighters--perhaps with pilots. Or loan a mine-layer to Ukraine for use off Ukraine's territorial waters.

Lots of things that can be done the purpose of which is to set up trip-wires. Putin does anything that triggers them, he does something to trigger them and snatching the "I'm the aggressor" ball for his own court.

Then there are more interesting options. Start routinely publishing photos showing Russian troop movements and locations. Intercepts of phone calls. All the nasty spy-stuff that we might be able to do--assuming that we have fall-backs or the information isn't traceable or can't be blocked in the future.

Lots of choices other than just invading Russia and starting WWIII. But all of them entail some risk, which obviously a lot of people aren't willing to take. Belief without action, that's the ticket.

Right now the main goal in the West appears to be CYA and posturing. If you're flat-footed and care about results, those are pointless. It's like making pointless threats when a woman's about to be raped, and saying how rough the courts will be on the perp--but, really, it's not our problem and we're not going to do much about it except point out that rape is illegal. Honestly, the woman doesn't much care about the pointless threats--she wants to prevent the rape. And the rapist figures that he can get away with it and its something he wants.