RETURN TO THE COLD WAR? – AT 11:52 A.M. ET:  American-Russian relations are plunging, and some in Washington are comparing the situation to the Cold War.  From National Journal: 

When asked by CNN's Candy Crowley if U.S.-Russia relations were now "at Cold War levels," Feinstein did not hesitate. "Yes," the California Democrat replied.

"The issue is, where is Putin? I would say, Putin, you have to man up," Feinstein said. "You should say if this was a mistake, which I hope it was, own up. even if it was, it was a horrendous mistake. … and it points out the futility of what is going on in Ukraine."

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, also appearing on CNN, agreed with Feinstein. "I believe, as you asked Senator Feinstein that Mr. Putin is returning to a cold war mentality," he said. "When I was over there, you could see this nationalistic pride, a sort of resurgence to regain the glory of the old days of the Soviet Empire and so we're seeing that happen with Crimea being annexed."

Already-strained U.S. diplomatic relations with Russia have deteriorated in recent months, as a wave of unrest in Ukraine led to Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula. That action and armed separatist movements in other regions of Ukraine have prompted tightening international sanctions on Russia, the most recent of which were announced by President Obama last week.

On Sunday, pro-Russian separatist militiamen took custody of about 200 of the 298 bodies found at the wreckage site of Fight 17, which was shot down by a surface-to-air missile on Thursday, according to Ukrainian officials.

COMMENT:  Why is this happening?  Well, one reason is Putin himself – who he is, what he is.  But another reason is the vacuum created by American weakness.   This wouldn't have happened with Ronald Reagan in the White House.  Reagan made Russia understand its weakness.  Obama makes Russia dream of its strength.

July 20, 2014