PPZVGOS

My point was that when the US gives a small country security guarantees then said country (for any number reasons) may be incentivized in being belligerent. I was not referring to any current flashpoint, but only making a general point in response to some other poster's comments. As for Syria, yes, there's nothing for the US itself to gain there (but there is for some US allies) except for risking its troops and assets against Russia & Iran. In Ukraine it's again something similar. Russia (for the most obvious reasons) will never-ever let go of Ukraine or allow it to join NATO, again the US has no vital interests there except of putting on Russia and antagonizing it further. US is better served in working with Russia to broker a deal over both Ukraine and the Middle East, plus getting Exxon's projects in Russia back on track.