Better would be for us to stop the LBJ-like slow escalation. It failed us in Vietnam, and it is failing Ukrainians. When you slowly turn up the heat, because you are afraid of the other side, you show weakness. You don't want to show weakness to a bully, yes nuclear armed bully, like Putin.

But that's what we are doing.

We should give Ukraine more effective and numerous weapons: better air defense; fighters and attack planes longer range missiles including cruise missiles; as much ground hardware as is needed (including ATACMS).

Russia needs to be defeated as a demonstration that this sort of behavior is folly. It needs to be an object lesson not just to Russia, but to China, to Iran, to North Korea.

Yes, it's risky. So is the conflict frozen-in-place. Putin will simply re-arm in that case, and attack again when he senses weakness in the west. Meanwhile, Ukrainian citizens in the conquered lands will continue to be brutalized, genocidally cleansed from their lands and shipped to the far reaches of Russia, as is happening now.

Also, by showing this kind of determination, Putin will be shown that if he uses tactical nuclear weapons, even as a demonstration, he will face a determined west, one willing to take it farther.

If Putin uses a nuke, he should know that we will use NATO air forces to first take out any of the Russian Air Force that gets close to Ukraine, and second, to wipe out any Russian unit in Ukraine that will not surrender. And such a use will necessitate taking out air defense systems, and air bases, in Russia.

Putin isn't suicidal. He doesn't want global nuclear war. And he has to be shown that low grade nuclear war will cost him, not gain for him. The best way to do that is to show more backbone.