While the Left cheers "sanctions" and talk of peace, Putin continues his assault on Crimea and Ukraine.

Why Putin Will Buckle Under Sanctions 

Russia may be talking a big game when it comes to Ukraine, but the Kremlin knows full well it can’t afford prolonged economic warfare.

Whatever Vladimir Putin’s talent at bullying, he cannot hide his country’s fundamental weakness.  The economy behind this show of force is in no position to withstand even the least strain.  It is distorted, fragile, and volatile.  Russia needs oil and gas sales to the West more than the West needs Russian oil and gas, and Russia, needs the West for just about everything else.  If it comes to an economic confrontation, Russia would not stand a chance.  As diplomats try to disarm the situation, hopefully without strong-arm tactics of any kind, they can gain from knowledge of how uneven an economic contest would be. . . . . . .   (editorial opinion from the Left leaning Daily Beast)

Editor's notes:  Problem with the above diplomatic theory:  while sanctions might work,  years and years down the road,  Putin and the growing Russia Cabal will have done so much harm to the free people it seeks to control,  that "victory" will be nothing more than an empty claim,  especially to those whose lives will have been ruined or lost during the interm.  

We have been down this nonsensical road before.  Jimmy Carter nearly destroyed our military might and was made to look the fool,  during the 444 day Iranian hostage crisis,  a crisis that ended with the release of those hostages on the same afternoon Ronald Reagan was sworn into office  . . . . . . . .  the same afternoon.  It was the threat of military force,  not the Utopian fantasies of a Leftist president,  that ended the crisis.

What are our options to the Russian challenge?  We have none.  Obama's do-nothing diplomacy cannot be repaired in time to prevent or,  even, amend Putin's expressed ambitions concerning Crimea and his growing threat against Ukraine.  Obama and his peace-nik friends have sat around,  busily refusing military support to the region,  unilaterally cancelling missile defense systems/treatises with The Czech Republic and Poland and against their pleadings to continue those treatise.  In 2006,  the hapless Obama proudly shared in the disarmament of Ukraine and, in 2012,  told the Russians,  "I will have more flexibility"  after the 2012 elections.  All of this screams "weakness !!!" to a Communist thug such as Putin.  

John Kerry is simply running his mouth and time will prove this claim to be true.  He has nothing else to do.  Besides the lack of leverage on the part of the United States,  we should remember that 25% of European fuel supply comes through Ukraine,  out of Russia.  A "war of sanctions" will work against a European alliance just as certainly as it would,  against Russia . . . .   and Putin knows this.  More than this,  he also knows that sanctions have not worked against the Palestinians,  Syria,  Iran,  and North Korea.  

In the end,  the Utopian world of peace, love and mutual respect,  has lost another battle,  and,  as relates to the Ukraine,  Utopia has lost another war.    What is most frustrating,  is the fact that the Ukraine is one of the largest of the European nations,  and has valued strategery to a Russian threat in the region.