Eerie

Barack Obama's idea of defense policy, being to stage a Rose Garden ceremony with the bearded, Arabic speaking, father of a military deserter, then to fly to Poland to announce 'a fund' (European Reassurance Initiative);

President Barack Obama has announced plans for a $1bn (£600m) fund to increase US military deployments to Europe, during a visit to Poland.

Mr Obama, who will meet Nato leaders amid concerns over the Ukraine crisis, said the security of America's European allies was "sacrosanct".

In April, 150 US soldiers were sent to Poland for military exercises amid growing tensions with Russia.

Mr Obama will also visit Belgium and France during his tour.

But, don't worry about the opportunity costs, Asia;

In a statement, the White House said the European Reassurance Initiative would not "come at the expense of other defence priorities, such as our commitment to the Asia Pacific rebalance". 

None of which is going to erase the effects of the political theater of the ransoming of an American deserter. Vladimir Putin certainly won't fail to notice.