It is unlikely that our political "leaders" will ever grasp the challenge presented by Putin's regime. We persist in doing far too little, far too late. And when it comes to the possibility of Russia collapsing into internal civil war and becoming instead of one large nation a collection of mini-states each ruled by a thuggish overlord, we should welcome this outcome because it would preclude any threat from that direction for generations.

We have permitted Ukraine to be reduced to rubble and millions of lives to be ruined forever, because we're a fearful, flabby, complacent, and self-absorbed culture incapable of grasping anything more challenging than a mindless "reality TV" show.