Saber rattling or something more ominous?

David Cameron the prime minister has warned president Putin about his behaviour in the eastern Ukraine he claims that he has 'torn up the rule book' of international diplomacy. Is this something more than saber rattling? Over the last few weeks and since the downing of MH17 the tensions have increased. There will be a NATO summit in Newport in South Wales next month when the reaction to the latest crisis will be top of the agenda. What can and should the reaction be of the west to the Russia bear? Unfortunately the commitment of 2% of GDP of nations to defence, only the US has upheld that. For the first time in many years the UK will fall below that requirement, only France has a similar budget for defence. So the NATO nations are somewhat naked when it comes to their collective security. That is not the case for Russia, they have spent wisely. From the Russia point of view they see the west encroaching on their 'traditional sphere' of influence and see the west as the aggressors. This difference of perception could potentially have very serious consequences. The issues separating Russia and the west and already problematic so it wouldn't take much for a 'spark to light the fire' that could once more engulf us all. Cameron is suggesting that troops be based in Poland as 'precautionary measure' - just is case Russia becomes even more restless than it is at present. Its 100 years since the outbreak of WW1 on Monday what an ominous anniversary. Lets hope 'the lights don't go out across Europe' this time.