> I don't know that NATO has the guts to give Putin that bloody nose. Your analysis seems rational in this moment. But: the policy and personality of a democra

> I don't know that NATO has the guts to give Putin that bloody nose. Your analysis seems rational in this moment. But: the policy and personality of a democracy is liable change rapidly and radically in a way no single actor ever would or could. Autocrats often do not understand this, and make the same assumptions you have. The scenario you describe would raise such apocalyptic outrage in America and Europe that war without thought of consequence would likely ensue. You simply cannot extrapolate future behavior of complex democracies from current behavior as you would an individual. The concern you laid out in your post is relevant: once enough citizens arrive at a similar opinion, policy can rapidly shift.