[Mick]

While I fully share your opinion of the current administration's policy regarding Russia and NATO, IMO shooting down the Russia jets would be extremely foolish. The fact is that both the US and Russia violate each other's airspace occasionally. Sometimes it is accidental, other times it is very intentional. It is also an open secret that US submarines operate deep inside Russian waters at times, e.g. Ivy Bells. Both sides, while deploring the other's behavior, so far realize that it isn't worth a war. The problem with retaliating against these Russian incursions by striking Russia assets is that is an escalation of the conflict. Overflights don't kill anybody or damage any property. Shooting down the violator does. That may draw an even bigger escalation by Russia. The probability of a chain of escalation producing an accidental war is just way too high. It is not in our interest to go there.
 
One might say "Putin will never do that". Of course, the Germans thought that Britain would not go to war over "a scrap of paper" in WW I and they also though Britain and France would not fight to defend Poland in WW II. We don't want to be in this position. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ultimatum.htm. Fighting a war because of a miscalculation of you opponent's resolve is NEVER a good thing.
 
The appropriate IMO response to the Russian overflights is the deployment of a strong air defense detachment into the region by the United States. It needs to be resourced with enough assets that the MIG-31s will have an escort before they reach NATO territory, baring the way. This must happen not just once, but every time Russia pulls this stunt. We can send back the message "Yes, you are here, but if we don't want you to be, you won't be. Our choice, not yours." It works for the US ADIZ.  We should ensure it works for Estonia too. That response is proportional. It would send the message we are serious but not trying to start a war. It also would increase our ability to defend Estonia if we had to do so.

What, exactly, is the current administration's policy towards Russia and NATO? Sounds like they believe that Ukraine can win back all their territory, that Putin's the enemy, that Russia's an economic disaster, that the administration believes in a strong commitment to NATO, etc.

Trump Pulls Jaw-Dropping 180 in Shocking Post Mocking Russia

Trump says he now thinks Ukraine can win back all territory taken by Russia

[Mick]

While I fully share your opinion of the current administration's policy regarding Russia and NATO, IMO shooting down the Russia jets would be extremely foolish. The fact is that both the US and Russia violate each other's airspace occasionally. Sometimes it is accidental, other times it is very intentional. It is also an open secret that US submarines operate deep inside Russian waters at times, e.g. Ivy Bells. Both sides, while deploring the other's behavior, so far realize that it isn't worth a war. The problem with retaliating against these Russian incursions by striking Russia assets is that is an escalation of the conflict. Overflights don't kill anybody or damage any property. Shooting down the violator does. That may draw an even bigger escalation by Russia. The probability of a chain of escalation producing an accidental war is just way too high. It is not in our interest to go there.
 
One might say "Putin will never do that". Of course, the Germans thought that Britain would not go to war over "a scrap of paper" in WW I and they also though Britain and France would not fight to defend Poland in WW II. We don't want to be in this position. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ultimatum.htm. Fighting a war because of a miscalculation of you opponent's resolve is NEVER a good thing.
 
The appropriate IMO response to the Russian overflights is the deployment of a strong air defense detachment into the region by the United States. It needs to be resourced with enough assets that the MIG-31s will have an escort before they reach NATO territory, baring the way. This must happen not just once, but every time Russia pulls this stunt. We can send back the message "Yes, you are here, but if we don't want you to be, you won't be. Our choice, not yours." It works for the US ADIZ.  We should ensure it works for Estonia too. That response is proportional. It would send the message we are serious but not trying to start a war. It also would increase our ability to defend Estonia if we had to do so.

What, exactly, is the current administration's policy towards Russia and NATO? Sounds like they believe that Ukraine can win back all their territory, that Putin's the enemy, that Russia's an economic disaster, that the administration believes in a strong commitment to NATO, etc.

Trump Pulls Jaw-Dropping 180 in Shocking Post Mocking Russia

Trump says he now thinks Ukraine can win back all territory taken by Russia