Is anyone surprised Comrade Putin is flexing his muscle a bit more lately? If you are, then you need to pay closer attention to world events. I know this stuff tends to get your eyes glazing over, but make no mistake, the “diplomatic approach” to events that will likely shape your children’s world, is failing miserably. Personally, I’ve always believed there’s a balance between diplomacy and action as we engage in the day to day global gamesmanship. With that said, balance must be wielded by the hand of decision, and with a fundamental understanding of America’s critical role in a free world.

Barack Obama came to office with a promise of a “new world order”, born of diplomacy and humility. He apologized for everything he could think of in an attempt to diminish this nations “super power” status in the eyes of a world made freer by its enormous sacrifices. Moreover, from an artificial “red line” in Syria, to the miscalculations in Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Ukraine, the Presidents image has morphed into one of indecisive and weak in the eyes of a Soviet era KGB agent, who understands full well the power of image and perception.

Truth be told, the break-up of the Soviet Union would always be temporary if not for the diligence and stewardship of those who understand freedom’s history, and President Obama clearly does not. For his part, the President of Russia has every intention to revisit a time when the “evil empire” ruled by way of brute force and intimidation, and we are now seeing a re-testing of the international waters if you will, a sort of quiet and masked effort, reminiscent of a not long past “cold war”.

Consequently, and very much like on the domestic front, the Obama Administration continues to stumble, grasping aimlessly at any way forward, all the while digging a hole that will take years if not decades to fill in.