To the chest-thumpers of America

Don't look now, but Ben Stein (on CBS Sunday Morning) has done a masterful job of letting the air out of this tough talk on Russia and Georgia (emphasis in orignal)

Here's a cool idea: while we're in a difficult war in Iraq, while the war in Afhanistan is turning distinctly ugly, while we have major economic and energy problems - let's get into a war with Russia!

What? You don't think that's a good idea?

Neither do I.

But that seems to be exactly where we are heading. We already made the boneheaded move of getting nation of Georgia to think we would back them when they confronted Russia over Issues that have zero to do with us.

Russia warned us over and over to back off. We didn't back off. Then when Russia called our bluff, invaded Georgia and thumbed their noses at us - we did nothing. This was a nearly fatal blow to Georgia, a sovereign state and made us look like liars and punks.

Now we've made an agreement that places interceptor missiles in Poland, even as Russia has told us over and over again not to do it. We've promised the Poles we'll defend them if Russia attacks.

This is dangerous foolishness.

We're not gonna fight the Russians over Poland, which is right next to Russia and about 5,000 miles from us.

1. We don't have the means to do it; and
2. The nation doesn't want to do it.

So if Russia invades, which they've strongly hinted that they may do - we'll do nothing, and look weak again.

Why are we getting into all these messes so far from home? Why are we provoking the Russians needlessly? They are obviously ready to fight on their borders, and we're not ready to fight on their borders. And neither is anyone in Western Europe - all of whom are totally dependent on Russia for natural gas at this point. Plus, the Western Europeans have almost no armies at this point.

Look, we have enough on our plate. Let's not get other people killed and ourselves humiliated in Russia's backyard.

If we're not gonna fight - and we're not - let's just butt out and stay out.

Ben's dead-on on this issue. Only blind nationalists and simpletons could think picking a fight with Russia has any upside. We are not invincible - even if nations like Georgia and Poland think we are.

Russia is doing what they are doing because they understand that we cannot back up our words. We may not like it - but it doesn't change things. Leaders who suggest otherwise are either  shameless demagogues or fools. Either way, they are dangerously irresponsible.