In the 1870s the Russia of the Tsars, ever needful of a warm water port, had eyes on Constantinople and the entrance to the Mediterranean.  London music halls rang with the song that gave us the term ‘jingoist’. The song went, “We don’t want to fight, but by jingo if we do, we’ve got the men, we’ve got the ships, we’ve got the money too, the Russians shall not have Constantinople”. Putin might not  have his eye on Constantinople just yet, but are we due for another Crimean War? Where is Lord Cardigan and the Light Brigade when we need them?

Obama sings a merry tune, his smile lights up the sun
As Red Line after Red line bites the dust
What will he do to put things right and make the Russians run
Besides a letter stating his disgust
What can he do if trouble starts and Putin makes his move
And peaceful resolutions start to fade
He’s cut defense down to the bone and now he must reprove
The Russians with just one lone Light Brigade