Timing is a funny thing. Just a few days ago Russia invaded Georgia, in an attempt to rein in a nascent democracy that Russia has always considered to be within its sphere of influence. And yesterday Poland and the U.S. come to agreement on ballistic missile defense and reciprocal defense. What a curious coincidence, huh?

Would a President Obama be willing to commit to the defense of nations such as Poland, and to invest in missile defense and other combat systems that those allies seek? This clip goes a long way to answering that question:

Once his Hawaiian vacation/fundraising trip is over, Obama ought to make clear just what he thinks of Vladimir Putin. It would be even more helpful if Putin would make clear just what he thinks of Obama.