Russia is not going to attack, annex, or dismember Ukraine. The Russians do not have the intent, did not have the intent, to do any of those things to Ukraine.

Russia has not done much wrong so far. There has been no blood shed from Russian actions. Official and semi-official America have caricatured Russian intent and action in Crimea. The Russian message has been near completely submerged beneath the American media tsunami.

The Russian non-attack will be viewed as a "win" for President Obama over Vladimir Putin. Obama will not have won. This crisis will more embitter Putin and Lavrov toward Obama personally and toward official and semi-official America generally. They will see the various "partnerships"--which they, the Russians, buy into--with America, that official America has sold them, as shams. They will see that America hates Russia under Putin just as it hated the Soviet Union. Obama will assure Putin and Lavrov that he personally was more measured in his statements on Ukraine. This will be partially successful. John Kerry, et al, Susan Rice, Victoria Nuland and the rest, will never be trusted by Putin or Lavrov again.

That is what I believe.

I am Benjamin Harris.