We need to “understand Russian objectives”? They are the same Russian objectives of Brezhnev, Stalin, Nicholas II, Nicholas I, Alexander I etc., hegemony over the “Near Abroad” as Putin puts it (that would be Eastern Europe, the ‘Stans), a warm water port. These are Russia’s permanent interests (Indyk and the Obama team should tattoo Lord Acton’s famous quote on their forearms so as not to forget it.) Does any of Obama’s team read any history other than “The Team of Rivals?”