A policy memo to the president-elect. Priority: high.

It's in the U.S. national interest to explore better relations with Russia from a position of strength.

"U.S. leaders should respond to Moscow with a combination of strength and pragmatism rather than weakness and inflexibility."

Could a U.S. response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine provoke a confrontation that leads to a U.S.-Russian war? 

The stage is being set for an even more dramatic confrontation between the West and Russia over Ukraine. Obama must recognize the danger to U.S. national interests that the crisis may create and act accordingly.

American bluff and bombast toward Moscow has stoked Russian nationalism, convinced Putin we're weak, and fostered a dangerous realignment.

America's reaction to the Crimea crisis risks reducing flexibility on a paramount priority.

"In its totality, Russia’s domestic terrorism problem is more like Pakistan’s than America’s."