Trump's kowtowing to Putin edges us closer to nuclear war

[WillyPete]

We can't prevent Russia from deploying nuclear weapons if they decide that's the move.

We can only reiterate the consequences.

Unfortunately, with Trump being in the tank for Russia, it's difficult to be confident he would respond in kind, which undermines the entire MAD doctrine.

If Putin thinks Trump wouldn't pull the trigger on him, we have no effective nuclear deterrent.

But then, we aren't the only nuclear-capable nation, and we wouldn't be the most directly impacted by Russia nuking Ukraine.

If MAD "rules" don't apply to Russia, they don't apply to anyone.

If the US won't lead in the response, someone else will.

 

[Tigerace117]

We can't prevent Russia from deploying nuclear weapons if they decide that's the move.

We can only reiterate the consequences.

Unfortunately, with Trump being in the tank for Russia, it's difficult to be confident he would respond in kind, which undermines the entire MAD doctrine.

If Putin thinks Trump wouldn't pull the trigger on him, we have no effective nuclear deterrent.

But then, we aren't the only nuclear-capable nation, and we wouldn't be the most directly impacted by Russia nuking Ukraine.

If MAD "rules" don't apply to Russia, they don't apply to anyone.

If the US won't lead in the response, someone else will.

Like who? Britain and France aren’t going to sacrifice London or Paris for Ukraine.

 

[j brown's body]

The Russians have made it very clear they don’t consider the use of nukes unthinkable for a while now.

On the other hand, they haven’t had a concrete reason to actually use them, because their conventional forces have managed to stabilize things on the ground well they’re sure talking about it now.

Well they’re sure talking about it now.

 

[j brown's body]

Like who? Britain and France aren’t going to sacrifice London or Paris for Ukraine.

But Putin is willing to sacrifice Moscow?

Two can play this game.

 

[WillyPete]

Like who? Britain and France aren’t going to sacrifice London or Paris for Ukraine.

I don't find it a likely scenario, as I don't see any outcome that benefits Russia even theoretically. Much more useful as a threat.

And it seems at that stage the other option is to capitulate to Russia globally, for fear of being nuked, so might as well go down swinging.

 

[Tigerace117]

Well they’re sure talking about it now.

They’ve been, again, mentioning that reality for a while.

 

[Tigerace117]

But Putin is willing to sacrifice Moscow?

Two can play this game.

If Putin has already used nukes, as the scenario postulates, then clearly he isn’t worried about a response.

 

[j brown's body]

They’ve been, again, mentioning that reality for a while.

Due to Zelensky’s ratcheting up things with his attack on Russian planes.

 

[j brown's body]

I don't find it a likely scenario, as I don't see any outcome that benefits Russia even theoretically. Much more useful as a threat.

And it seems at that stage the other option is to capitulate to Russia globally, for fear of being nuked, so might as well go down swinging.

Which, to some degree, makes Trump's willingness to capitulate to Putin all the more curious.

Things are gong to spin out of control more if he doesn't take a stand.

 

[mike2810]

So much for President Trump ending the Ukraine/Russia war before taking office.
So much for President Trump getting Ukraine and Russia together and hash out a peace deal in a brief time frame.

imo, what is playing out is how ineffective President Trump is in dealing with Russia and Ukraine. One might say Trump has no cards.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Due to Zelensky’s ratcheting up things with his attack on Russian planes.

I disagree. Putin placed those aircraft in harms way by utilizing them as loitering airborne platforms to launch cruise missiles and glide-bombs into Ukraine.

Such self defense is permissible under the Geneva Conventions and the Law of Armed Conflict (IHL).