Putin is a bully and if you cower in fear, it will make him even bolder next time - and there will be a next time.

Consider the previous steps:

* 2000: Chechnya

* 2008: Georgia

* 2014: Crimea

* 2015: Syria

* 2022: Ukraine

Every time, Putin has upped the ante. Every time, the West has backed down. Worse, Obama drew a line in the sand with chemical weapons and backed down when it was proved Putin did use them.

If you're a bully, what do you think when somebody tries to threaten you and doesn't hold their onto their word? You get bolder.

The game theory tells that it's easy to maximize your gains if you know the strategy of your opponent. What had we done so far? Repeatedly told we won't send any troops. Putin thinks the West is weak. So far, he's right.

We are now paying the price of our inaction. The more we wait, the more expensive the price.

My alternative is easy to conceptualize but hard to implement. Send troops. Let it be done once and for all. The more we wait, the more Buchas will wait on our conscience. At the time I'm writing this comment, it seems it's already the case and it's worse.