Bob Franken

One of the worst parts of a sudden global crisis like the one that has erupted over Ukraine is that we have no idea what’s really going on. The diplomats and intelligence people of our national-security apparatus, along with our political leaders, are playing their Cold War games mostly in secret. The bigger problem is that we can’t be sure that even they have any idea what’s going on.

What does it mean when President Barack Obama warns Soviet — uh, excuse me, I mean Russian — President Vladimir Putin that “there will be costs” if he sends the military into Ukraine? Is there something ominous...