[1] I found this post at National Review Online as blood-curdling as anything I’ve seen lately. An anonymous friend of Rich Lowry is suggesting that the [2] U.S. Sixth Fleet take up residence in [3] Sevastopol when the Russian fleet is booted out by Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion of Georgia has reminded us what a dangerous world we live in. Various armchair strategists [4] have pointed out the unfeasibility of a NATO military response (at least, [5] one that involves ground troops). However, the real obstacle is political, as in “political will”. [6] Almost no one on either side of the Iraq war issue is willing to let any NATO soldiers die for Georgia by Russian arms — not the anti-war, anti-American left, nor the anti-Islamofascist right.

Which raises the question, and the spectre: what action by Russia would it take to provoke a response from NATO? What if Putin embarks on a course that aims to reassemble the Soviet Union, in “authoritarian”, not “totalitarian” form? Even right-wing analysts would pause if global totalitarian domination is not in the balance, merely “regional” rearrangement.

Lowry’s friend is apparently in favor of “[7] forward defense“, as the euphemism goes. But moving into Sevastopol would be provocative in the extreme. Russia would likely take it [8] as well as Kennedy took to the idea of Russian missiles in Cuba. And their response might be similar — a naval blockade, possibly initiated during the buildup phase of basing, “before we are ready”.

So I think Sevastopol is a non-starter, though the mere contemplation of the move brings a frisson of remembrance of childhood rounds of [9] Diplomacy.

But returning to the question, here are some other non-starters: (1) letting Putin grab as much territory as he wants, (2) drawing a line in the dirt somewhere west of Ukraine, (3) begging, (4) hand-wringing, (5) [10] hoping, (6) [11] strong words from the UN Security Council, (7) [12] starting a new league of democracies, and (8) [13] depending on the French to lead the way.

Here are some constructive suggestions: (1) [14] install ballistic missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic, right now, (2) admit Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Ukraine to NATO, and fast-track Albania, Croatia, and anyone else willing to get in line, [15] including Sweden and Finland,  (3) initiate joint military training with Ukraine, right now, (4) [16] call Putin’s bluff and immediately withdraw from the INF treaty, citing Russian aggression against Georgia as the reason, and (5) release RFQs for the development of a new generation of stealthy, GPS-guided, intermediate range missiles. The intent of all these moves is not to provoke a war — for which Putin is not ready — but to prevent a war by rearranging Putin’s strategic calculation. He must be made to understand that the Georgian invasion was a blunder, and not “[17] audacity“.

We live in a dangerous time. Again. As always.

[h/t [18] Rand Simberg, once again.]