Are we Headed for Nuclear War?

It's the genie out of the bottle thing. If they stay tactical and stay in theater, well, yes, tragic for those there.
But looking at those that are running the nuke countries, I'm not sure which ones wouldn't press the big red button as a pile on.
That's what worries me along with the fact my brother will probably get vaporized in the tactical round.

 

^^^^I don't even want to consider this, won't even think about it and certainly not accept it for the simple reason that wars have a known track record of escalating so there is no such thing as a single tactical nuke. No, not even one (1) tactical nuclear weapon strike should ever be allowed and any country that does so should be considered the enemy of the entire world.

What needs to happen immediately is the UN or at the very least NATO, under unanimous vote issue an agreement, that any nuclear weapon of ANY form is used against an adversary or in a terrorist act committed by a state ANYWHERE in the world is a declaration of war against the world...but since China wouldn't sign/agree to it then all countries that are part of the agreement be it NATO and/or a list of UN members.

They need to do this now and get ahead of this because Putin is getting ready to throw the kitchen sink at Ukraine and if that doesn't work then he'll use field grade nukes. Yeah, Biden gave some vague threats but who would believe him. No. It must come from as much of the world as possible to give it real teeth. The Russian people already know that the great majority of the world is against them, and they also know that did not turn out well for Nazi Germany so the entire world must speak up. Russia must not be allowed to use nuclear weapons of any kind.


EDIT: I suppose we could give Ukraine back their nuclear weapons...or give them replacements. I do know this from my own personal experience from dealing with Russians is you need to deal from a position of strength as it's the only real diplomacy they understand, 'realpolitik' at its finest.

 

Diplomacy works


Not really. Never underestimate stupid people that way you'll never be disappointed.

 

Russians are a pragmatic people. That's the best word I can think of when dealing with them. Why should they 'deal' if they are bigger and stronger and can simply 'take' but you put a tire iron in your hand, and this gives them a reason to deal or at least think about it. I am NOT saying they are a bad people because they are not, they are simply pragmatic, realistic, realpolitik, call it what you will... Putin and his crowd are from the Soviet era and no matter how far they have come they still can and do use the old 'might makes right' diplomacy.

"So, what are you saying Bandit?" I'm saying, the following day after Putin's latest rant, the UN or NATO should have made it clear to the RUSSIA PEOPLE (not Putin because he's a lost cause) using simple, direct language, that ANY use of a nuclear weapon in the Ukraine would be considered an act of International Terrorism or an Act of War against Humanity (listing the countries) and retaliation would happen immediately. The consequences must be made clear, totally out in the open (not behind closed doors) in order that the use of these weapons cannot even be a consideration. The Russian people need to understand what is at stake here...cause right now they do not. They are starting to see and I believe Putin will see it as big mistake not to have shut down the internet, but the people are just now understanding that this is much more serious than they been led to believe. They will listen but Putin will not - hell - he can't afford to listen because he can't afford to lose…

 

Don't under estimate the value of the Munich agreement to Britain, and Germany. Britain was under prepared for war in 1939, and it would have been even more underprepared in 1938. The agreement allowed Britain and Germany some breathing time to work on their re-armament programs in anticipation of the inevitable conflict. Chamberlain may have said "Peace in our time", but I don't think he was under the illusion that it was a permanent 'peace'. In that sense, diplomacy worked (temporarily) for Britain, France and Germany...not so much for the Czechs and Slovaks.

I think Chamberlain may have been a bit starry eyed with regards to Hitler, but the lesson for Ukraine is not to be in the same position of Czechoslovakia...but having sufficient national commitment and resolution to defend their own sovereign territory by all means possible.

Ukraine has been at war with Russia for some 14 years, and has been learning from that experience, and has been developing and expanding, with help from others, their national, and military mobilisation capacities.

Evidently Russia has not, and their incompetent attempts at executing their 'partial mobilisation', have had questionable value in retrieving Russia's military fortunes in Ukraine. Russia has been emptying Prisons of manpower for their army, and I shouldn't be surprised if mental institutions were trawled for bodies with beating hearts (if not very functional brains) to throw at the Ukrainians.

Unwilling conscripts, poorly led, poorly equipped and poorly trained, who are committed piecemeal to the theatre of operations ....what could go wrong? In Vietnam, FNGs sent as replacements did it hard, how so march harder for the unwilling, press ganged into combat. I foresee an increased deterioration in the combat capabilities of existing Russian units committed to combat operations in Ukraine. Who knows...Russia may borrow a stratagem of the German Wehrmacht: 'Ear (Ohren) and 'Stomach'('Magen') battalions?

70th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

https://www.news.com.au/world/europ...s/news-story/7d35694fa85cc32b2a4ddc1cfbd206cb

 

What do you make of the expert in the article? He started out as a congressional staffer, then worked for a think tank. I'd say his take is roughly equal to any man on the street.

 

Send Ukraine several of those long range HIMARs pods. 50 miles up to 180 miles.
That will shake things up a bit. It may also accelerate what ever the final outcome though.

There are no winners in war. Well maybe the arms manufacturers / dealers.

 

I think those that don't participate win as well. (China)

 

Nuklear waar (shades of baby Bush)

I don't worry too much, after all the US Government bombed the crap out of the western US with nearly 100 above ground nuke detonations. Last I looked, folks survived.





My wife was born in 1955 - she got nuked a few times.... Downwinders have a different view, perhaps, than others.

 

Don't be too quick to give up on the Russian people! I speak with several on a near daily basis, they know full well what's going on and are scared as hell The Boss will go full stupid and launch everything at the west! These people I speak with tell me the average Russian citizen is fully aware of the goings on and are scared shitless of what's happening in Ukraine and what Putin is doing elsewhere! The average Russian dosnt want any of this any more then the rest of us, but they know it will likely happen, and knowing that, they are prepared as much as they can to take things in hand and do what needs doing! Sadly, that hasn't happened yet, but it will eventually!
I have often said, Americans are too soft, and wouldn't take action to stop our own Government from trampling all over us, I always say it has to effect each person at a direct and personal level, in other words, only when We The People have nothing less to loose will we act! I see the Russians exactly the same! Right now, they absolutely fear their government and that maniac Putin, but they are a hell of a lot closer to having nothing left to loose, and that will be the day they take it back, and hopefully can pull the world back from the brink!

 

Right on

If we can sink an entire pipeline, a single sub will be no problem....