At its core, foreign policy/international relations is straightforward, the Anglo-spheric, Scandinavian, Germanic, and a few other nations all play by adult rules, for the rest it is kindergarten.

At its core, foreign policy/international relations is straightforward, the Anglo-spheric, the Scandinavian, the Germanic, and a few other nations all play by adult rules, for the rest it is just like kindergarten.

Russian Jets Buzz U.S. Navy Ship at 30 Feet

Putin is a big kindergartner. And like all kinders he will push until he finds the limit. President Obama is like a yielding parent, always unhappy with the fact that the child is unruly, and unwilling to listen or obey. This is a problem with the parent not the child.

It is time to take Russia to task for its boundary pressing maneuvers, and China as well for its incursions into the South China Sea. As Mead suggests new protective treaties, including US or NATO troops could do the trick. We need to strengthen our support for the opponents of China's incursion into the South China Sea as well. Each of these proposals would sting, and would serve to discipline these recalcitrant nations. 

The real problem is that such actions must be actions, and not threats. President Obama has a history of drawing lines in the sand, and when his adversary steps over the line, he simply draws another. Policy without consequences, is like parenting without consequences. It is incompetent and does not result in the desired results. Once the line is drawn, a consequence must flow from breech. Every. Single. Time. 

These actions are likely to be effective and do not risk a more serious international crisis. 

However, splashing a couple of planes is more dramatic, and cathartic. I can say that because Obama does not have the constitution to execute.

I suspect this problem will fester until we have a new President. With the current pool of candidates, I am at wits end over foreign policy. Hillary is the architect of the Obama foreign policy, it has been a disaster. Trump is an unknown, as is Cruz, as is Sanders. 

Now would be a good time for a brilliant Cincinnatus with both foreign policy, and domestic policy experience to pop out of  the woodwork, and steal the presidential election.

A guy can dream!