EDITORIAL: Does American foreign policy have teeth?

Pretty simple deal to me. Since the '70's members of NATO have refused to pull their own weight. They have looked to the US to defend them without offering an honest attempt to accept their own responsibilities (minus maybe Luxembourg). NATO members have refused or grudgenly provided support, with little to no enthusiasm, in areas such as Afghanistan. Even though treaties say an attack on one is an attack on all. Where are the massive crowds of protest in Germany or France against Russia? Oh, wait a minute. It's not their problem. After all, they don't have to worry. The US will save their asses if the Bear comes their way. I say screw 'em.

U.S. relations with Russia have evolved from the multilateralist policies of the Clinton administration. One of the characteristics of it's dysfunctionality is the U.N. acceptance of a system of global consensus with regional compliance. When these regional powers come into contact with each other, there will be political, economic and eventually military conflict. There is one other factor that constrains U.S. influence, energy. While Russia may only be a military power, it is an energy superpower because of it's energy independence and it's ability to control energy in its region (including Europe). Unless we can supply Europe with energy, our only alternative to halt Russian primacy is military (NATO). Unless the Democrats in Congress can start working toward energy parity with Russia, they will leave only one tooth for the President (military) and I doubt he will have much of a bite. Russia has treated it's region like boiling a frog. Turn up the heat quickly to boil and it will jump out, turn it gradually and it will adapt to heat, maybe even enjoy. Eventually, turn it up to boil and it is too late. It may already be too late and we will probably see the deteriation of NATO as a defense against energy intimidation.

Russia planned this attack for a long time, they worked with China and Iran to keep the world busy so there wasn't a credible military threat to Russia. Now we are setting here watching Russia rebuild the Russian Empire and wonderning which Republic will be the next to be seized. Will the US and Europe fight for international freedom or will we set by and watch freedom be destroyed?

After Afghanistan and Iraq, yes, it's very safe to say our foreign policy has teeth. We only need the political will to use them. Unfortunately, the rest of the world has observed US Democrat treason and divisiveness over Iraq and Afghanistan - therefore they think they can count on the Democrats to derail any reaction to aggressive moves on their part. Pretty safe bet, unfortunately. We need to clean our %12 approval rated congress out, replace it with honorable men and women. And it will really help our allies if we elect a warrior for President instead of a socialist gas bag like B. Hussein.

a house divide against itself cannot stand the USA is nation that needs financing from communist china, and other hostile regimes, for funding for it's continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. it is a a nation where it's elected representatives can not or will not compromise for the common good so how can this nation act to save a foreign people thousands miles away it can and will not