Walking softly: Russians' reaction to U.S. threats reason to be wary

As the tensions continue to escalate in the Ukraine, there is reason for pause.

After all, threatening is one thing. Acting upon those threats is another.

And there is no question that this country needs to think long and hard before getting involved in another skirmish of any kind.

But there is another issue that must be addressed.

When we make promises to fledgling democracies that we will stand with them, and then we are absent when the cards hit the table, we send a message that we cannot be trusted and that our word means nothing.

And that is not a position of power for any nation, let alone one with such a storied tradition of standing up for the oppressed and those who are fighting for freedom.

Standing with those nations is our way of paying it forward, being there for those who are trying to build a country much the same way a group of patriots did here so many years ago.

What's the answer? Who knows. Our "big stick" diplomatic approach doesn't seem to be working anymore.

But there are consequences for the path that the current leadership has chosen -- and it is time to look carefully at the results now and what they could mean for the future.

We cannot afford to leave it to chance.

Published in Editorials on March 6, 2014 10:58 AM