THE RISE OF RUSSIA – AT 9:09 A.M. ET:  Eight years ago there were no Russian troops in the Mideast.  Now Moscow is a major military factor in Syria.  Thank you, President Obama and Secretary Kerry.

Eight years ago Russia didn't control Crimea.  Not so today.  Thanks again, guys. 

Eight years ago, our victory in the Cold War seemed secure.  Not so now.  Mr. Obama, our hat is off to you.

And there's this, from Newsmax:   

Russia appears to be actively considering the limited use of nuclear weapons, and the Trump administration's nuclear doctrine of "deterrence" will answer the threat, a senior defense official said Monday.

The Washington Free Beacon reported deputy undersecretary of defense David Trachtenberg told the Heritage Foundation the United States has been "extremely concerned with what we have seen as the evolution of Russian military policy as it relates to potential use of nuclear weapons."

"Russian nuclear doctrine seems to actively consider the possibility of limited nuclear use," he said, the Free Beacon reported.

"Russian military exercises . . . in some cases have involved levels of activity involving strategic nuclear forces that we haven't seen since the heyday of the Cold War, and some of those exercises have involved the simulated use of nuclear weapons as part of what has been referred to as an 'escalate to deescalate strategy.'"

COMMENT:  Fortunately, President Trump, far from being in collusion with Russia, is showing real toughness, and, most important, is rebuilding our military forces. 

February 27,  2018