Specifically, the United States could, with a stroke of a pen, totally destroy the capacity of Russia to compete militarily or economically with us by offering a green card to any Russian with a technical degree who wishes to emigrate to the United States.

Such a move would destroy Russia’s technical capacity and greatly strengthen our own position against both the short-term threat from Russia and the longer-term challenge posed by China…

To be clear, hiring away Putin’s scientists would not by itself stop Russia’s pending invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions, by themselves, won’t work either. The only way to save Ukraine now is to provide its army with ample weaponry and back it up with fighter air cover. Nothing less will do in the current crisis, and there is good reason for doubt that the Biden administration is up to the challenge.

But even if Biden somehow succeeds in deterring Putin this time, the threat from Russia will persist. If he fails, it will grow exponentially greater.

So let’s make the smart move and take away the men and women Putin needs to win.