Ukraine Crisis: Six Reasons Why U.S. Use Of Military Forces Is Unthinkable (From Forbes)

Ukraine’s interim leader was in Washington this week asking that America protect his nation’s territorial integrity — a move some hardline critics of President Obama seem inclined to support.  However, any use of U.S. forces to influence events in Ukraine would be a strategic miscalculation of epic proportions.  First, Russia has a nuclear arsenal that could destroy America if the conflict escalates out of control. Second, Ukraine is vital to Russian security.  Third, America’s European partners are unwilling to participate in military action.  Fourth, Russia has local military advantages at each rung on the “ladder of escalation.”  Fifth, the Ukranian political landscape is too murky to assure U.S. forces would be safe or supported.  And sixth, the U.S. electorate is strongly opposed to U.S. military action.  I have written a commentary for Forbes here.