How many times has Russian President Vladimir Putin had to say that he will not invade Ukraine? A Google search shows that the Russian leader has denied 11 times so far what United States President Joe Biden sees as a "distinct possibility." We don’t know what his game is, but Biden is about to provide the exact date and time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One can only hope that the American leader will have his hands full nominating the first black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court so he drops this "Russian invasion lottery" from his daily routine. However, his neo-con cabal within the U.S.' national security and diplomacy apparatus shows no sign of letting up.

From columnists in Tel Aviv to good friends in Tbilisi, using terminology varying from escalation to conflagration, pundits paint a picture of a war in and around Ukraine on a scale unseen in Europe since the end of World War II.

According to the reasoning of pro-U.S. commentators, Putin has gotten himself into a very difficult position from which he cannot escape. Russia’s Dec. 17 memorandum to NATO (and the U.S.) insisted that the organization cease its "open door" policy – which could (and would) make all the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact members NATO members – and desist stockpiling all the used tanks, mortars, guns and factory-default helmets. Thank you, Germany; what’s next, inflatable soldiers?

Like all those cease and desist letters – unless they have a ticket for the "Love and Be Silent" concert – the Russian memorandum was bound to procure the standard response taught in Law 101 courses in four steps: