Tackling the Ivan Threat

  With the recent turmoil in Ukraine and the allegations of Russian direct support of rebels NATO is struggling on how to counter Russian involvement. The United States along with other Western powers have placed numerous sanctions on Russia. Yet these sanctions have not phased Russia whats so ever. Russia sticks to its claim that it has no involvement in the current civil war in Ukraine. That is hard to believe after seeing the equipment and armament these pro Russian rebels have. NATO intelligence also shows mass troop movement all along the eastern Ukrainian border. Ten Russian soldiers were also captured by Ukrainian troops and Russia's explanation was they accidentally went into Ukraine. After the annexation of Crimea and the shooting down of the Malaysian Airlines plane NATO  must act upon Russian destabilization of Ukraine.  NATO needs to show  it's teeth and remind the world that it will stand by it's foundations. Putin is running a mock of NATO knowing that it can get away with it after it just simply stole Crimea without retaliation from Ukraine or NATO.  I suggest that they at least supply the Ukrainian army with military hardware and funding.  In addition NATO  needs to increase its presence in the region to intimidate Putin by doing military excercises as well as stationing troops next to Russian. In the long term admit Ukraine as well as Georgia into NATO. Russia will then have no buffer zone and will think twice before flexing its muscles. NATO needs to prove to the world that it can live up to it's reputation and prove that it is still useful today even after the cold war.  Only time can tell if Russia will back off and if so can NATO really counter it.

http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-putin-nato-20140907-story.html