‘Limited’ Tactical Nuclear Weapons Would Be Catastrophic
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows the limits of nuclear deterrence
March 10, 2022
https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti ... astrophic/
No one knows if using a tactical nuclear weapon would trigger full-scale nuclear war. Nevertheless, the risk of escalation is very real. Those on the receiving end of a nuclear strike are not likely to ask whether it was tactical or strategic. In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on February 6, 2018, then–Secretary of Defense James Mattis stated “I do not think there is any such thing as a tactical nuclear weapon. Any nuclear weapon used any time is a strategic game changer.” Russian leaders have made clear that they would view any nuclear attack as the start of an all-out nuclear war.
On Top of Everything Else, Nuclear War Would Be a Climate Problem
Even a “minor” skirmish would wreck the planet.
By Robinson Meyer
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/arc ... te/627005/
Since Russia invaded Ukraine two weeks ago, that threat has become a lot more real: Many Americans, including artists, climate-concerned progressives, and even a few lawmakers, have come out in support of a “no-fly zone.” But despite its euphemistic name, a no-fly zone means that NATO and the United States issue a credible threat that they will shoot down any enemy plane in Ukrainian territory. This would require U.S. bombing runs into Russian territory to eliminate air defenses, bringing the U.S. and Russia into open war, and it would have a reasonable chance of prompting a nuclear exchange. And it would be worse for the climate than any energy policy that Donald Trump ever proposed.
POLITICS Published 5 hours ago
US drifting toward 'enormous danger of nuclear war', Newt Gingrich says
US facing danger of a 'decisive defeat' of the West, says Gingrich
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/us ... t-gingrich
Well, I mean, first of all, what you have is a secular religion, which people like John Kerry believe in so passionately that they will do virtually anything. So- I mean, why would you take oil from Venezuela, but not from Texas? Why would you take natural gas from Iran, but not from Oklahoma? I mean, there's something so profoundly perverted in the entire thought process of the Biden administration that it doesn't fit any kind of traditional political situation. Second, if you watch Kamala Harris, how could you send her anywhere? I mean, the fact- she is such an example of weakness and ignorance that having her in Poland and Romania weekends, it doesn't strengthen the Western alliance and nobody's coming to grips with the reality of Putin. Putin is engaged in actions that are clearly war crimes, and he is directing them himself. They're getting worse. He's getting bolder as he gets more desperate. And you know, you had Secretary Blinken and doing the right thing the other day saying that, yes, we would help the Poles deliver MiG-29 to Ukraine within a day or two, the Defense Department of the very same administration says, 'No, we can't do that.' Well, I mean, where are we on all this stuff? And frankly, I think we're drifting towards an enormous danger of nuclear war and an enormous danger of a decisive defeat of the West.
I was a nuclear missile operator. There have been more near-misses than the world knows
Cole Smith Thu 10 Mar 2022 06.26 EST
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... orld-knows
On the massive blast door of the launch control center, someone had painted a mural of a Domino’s pizza logo with the macabre caption, “World-wide delivery in 30 minutes or less or your next one is free.”
John Ivison: West can't assume Putin’s 'rationality' will rule out nuclear war over Ukraine
It is up against a desperate man running low on options. In online poker, they call it 'playing the Russian way,' showing strength with any kind of hand, all-in, always
Author of the article:John Ivison
Publishing date:Mar 08, 2022 • 1 day ago • 5 minute read • 436 Comments
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/john-i ... er-ukraine
The Russian leader’s mood was summed up in testimony to the U.S. House Intelligence committee in Washington on Tuesday. CIA director William J. Burns said Putin is angry and frustrated at having seen his anticipated swift victory in Ukraine become bogged down. In Burns’ estimation, he will double down because the invasion is based on a deep conviction.