Its hibernation complete, the Russian bear is shaking off its slumber. There are numerous reasons we should be concerned, as Russian relations with the United States remain tense.

First, after Syrian President Bashar Assad recently completed a friendly visit to Moscow, there are new fears in Jerusalem that Russia may spark a military buildup in the Middle East. It has been speculated that Russia is expected to propose a revival of its naval bases at the Syrian ports of Tartus and Latakia on the Mediterranean.

Second, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart signed a deal to build a U.S. missile defense base in Poland. In response, a top Russian general warned that Poland was risking an attack, possibly a nuclear one, by developing the base.

Third, and perhaps more alarming, Russia utilized its military might to undermine Georgia’s fledgling democracy, sending an unmistakable message. To be sure, Russia has reminded us that it is a powerful nation on a quest for hegemony.

It has also reminded us that our world is a dangerous place in which to live. In response to its invasion of tiny Georgia, Secretary of State Rice, speaking for the administration, said that Russia is playing a “very dangerous game” and warned that NATO would not allow Moscow to win in Georgia, destabilize Europe or draw a new Iron Curtain through it. Her words, steeped in strength, echoed an earlier, frightful time in our history.

With an uneasy combination of international terrorism along with a powerful nation state on a quest for hegemony, the choice of our next president has never been more crucial. Hillary Clinton’s much discussed 3:00 a.m. wake up call no longer merely inhabits the philosophical realm. It became a reality check for many on the left – one that Barack Obama and his advisors handled poorly.

While vacationing in Hawaii, Obama had people working overtime to determine a rational, presidential response to Russia’s invasion of Georgia. Initially, the best they could do was equate the actions of the two nations, while calling for mutual restraint. Soon thereafter, demonstrating their collective appetite for appeasement, they naively demanded the United Nations take a proactive role in solving the conflict. Not since Neville Chamberlain had a more meek response been tendered.

Recognizing their show of weakness, Obama and his advisors later shifted their rhetoric, criticizing the Russian bear and labeling its actions as “aggression.” It took two days of equivocation for them to finally decide the Russians could be a danger after all.

The anemic response of Barack Obama to the crises in Georgia was particularly enlightening. His is a foreign policy of appeasement, historically proven to fail.

More experienced individuals have properly defined the renewed aggression of Russia as a threat to world peace and have therefore advocated bold responses and sanctions.

For example, some have argued that we should suspend the NATO-Russia Council established in 2002, purporting to allow Russia limited representation at the NATO table.

Others have debated that the G-8 should be dissolved by having the seven member democracies withdraw and later announcing the reconstitution of the original G-7. Such action would exclude Russia’s presence in this group of industrial democracies. Similarly, numerous experts have maintained that Russia should be denied entry to the World Trade Organization.

A few have even called for a European and United States boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi, and some of the more militaristic minds have called for the immediate entry of Ukraine into NATO. The republic has been leaning toward NATO membership, with the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan signed in 2002.

The above are just a few of the ideas being circulated by those with foreign policy experience. Nevertheless, when faced with this challenge, inexperienced Obama could only propose to place the world’s safety into the incompetent hands of the United Nations. I’d feel more comfortable standing alone with a slingshot.

As the eyes of the world shifted to the carnivorous beast awakened by Vladimir Putin’s ambition, it became apparent that Obama will not be able to handle the ever growing Russian threat. He would only demonstrate weakness and create the impression of diminished resolve.