Impeachment over, time to end Cold War II against Russia

Of course the president deserved impeachment on both charges, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He's already refuted hopes of senatorial enablers such as Susan Collins that he's learned his lesson and will behave. More likely he's been emboldened to continue his unprecedented assault on every constitutional imperative of the presidency, degrading the presidency like none of his 43 predecessors. That includes his impeachment forebears Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.

One unintended benefit of the process was the spotlight it placed on America’s new Cold War against Russia, largely being a proxy fight over the corrupt, broken country of Ukraine; a country having has no connection whatsoever with America’s national security interests. Born in 1945, the year America kicked off the first Cold War to keep WWII gravy train flowing, I lament that 75 years on I haven’t spent a single day of life when Russia was not considered our enemy.

It didn’t have to be this way. When the USSR imploded in 1990, I was one of millions heralding the promised peace dividend so desperately needed by our investment starved nation. It never happened. President George H.W. Bush promised not to move NATO one inch toward the new Russia in return for Russia's acquiescing in a united Germany. Then he and his successors Clinton, Bush Jr. and Obama did just that, irresponsibly ratcheting up tensions with our only true nuclear rival, a rival newly remade in America. Is it any wonder Russia would try to throw the 2016 election to the candidate less likely to continue, indeed expand Cold War II against them like Hillary Clinton and the bi-partisan Cold War II congressional coalition?

Impeaching Trump and ending Cold War II are not mutually exclusive. The former was critical in salvaging the honor of the presidency. The latter is critical in insuring our survival from an unintended misstep into World War III.