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-misanthroptimist

(2,137 posts)

53. A tactical nuke presents problems for the West

Tue Jul 7, 2026, 04:11 PM

Jul 7

We can't -and won't- respond with ICBMs. That would be both overkill and madness. That leaves us with three choices:

1. Respond in kind with tactical nukes;
2. Respond with air or land attacks;
3. The proverbial strongly worded letter.

Number 1 could lead to ICBM madness anyway and almost certainly will cause Russian attacks in Western Europe.

Number 2 will, of course, mean we're at war with Russia. That, too, could lead to ICBMs, particularly since Russia is so weak at the moment.

Number 3 will be seen as capitulation and betrayal. It effectively would be the end of NATO's credibility, if not the outright end of NATO.

I presume NATO and the US both have war-gamed out this scenario.Hopefully, NATO in particular has an agreed upon answer. The [Redacted] Administration in the US might well reject any answer from the Pentagon, based [Redacted]'s love for Putin.

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Will Russia use a tactical nuke in Ukraine? [View all] SamuelTheThird Jul 6 OP

They might, Putin is a Russian version of T-rump with more power...T-rump loves and emulates the dictator... wcmagumba Jul 6 #1

Yes, they have them, and can deliver them so they might. BUT 31j20b3 Jul 6 #9

Given the state of Russia's stockpiles in general, even in the unlikely event Putin made such a suicidal decision, Emrys Jul 6 #37

Spot On ProfessorGAC Jul 7 #47

Trump would likely take it as a licence to nuke Iran. Essentially it would break the nuclear taboo and Crunchy Frog Jul 7 #45

I don't see any real evidence pointing in that direction. Torchlight Jul 6 #2

You seem to have a lot of faith in Putin's rationality SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #3

I have faith he's cold, calculating and crunches numbers Torchlight Jul 6 #5

I'd like to see you present evidence SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #6

I see a person who possesses a pattern of long-horizon strategic goals, Torchlight Jul 6 #11

incremental escalation strategy, SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #13

Seems a far cry from the prior 'rambling and ineffective' bit Torchlight Jul 6 #15

btw Woodward's book claims Putin was seriously considering using a nuke SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #16

Just wanted to point out that Ukraine never "recaptured" the city of Kharkiv because the russians Crunchy Frog Jul 7 #42

Sullivan was out of his depth, and was a significant factor in Biden and the allies' timidity and over-caution Emrys Jul 7 #46

I agree, and participated in those discussions elsewhere on the internet. Crunchy Frog Jul 7 #48

A tactical nuke presents problems for the West -misanthroptimist Jul 7 #53

I doubt it. bearsfootball516 Jul 6 #4

What makes you think a defeat in Ukraine wouldnt mean an end to his time? SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #7

Putin is just stalling for time - harumph Jul 6 #8

His hope has already dwindled to nothing if thats the case SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #10

A tactical nuke order would only speed up the loss. harumph Jul 6 #27

So, do you have any other sources for this supposition? MineralMan Jul 6 #12

Uh, what? The Video wasnt a source for my question SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #14

No Manatee Jul 6 #17

Biden administration at one point wasnt so confident SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #18

They also believed that Kyiv would fall in 3 days, the entire country within a few weeks, Crunchy Frog Jul 7 #43

Only if Taylor Swift asks them mr715 Jul 6 #19

Any thoughts on the topic at hand? SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #20

I do not think Russia will use a nuke. mr715 Jul 6 #21

Ok, that's a relief SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #22

Again, it really comes down to whether or not Taylor Swift is involved. mr715 Jul 6 #25

She has a huge PR machine working for her already, you know? SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #26

Hopefully not in the next Fortnight sarisataka Jul 6 #23

Well played, sir, take my rec. N/T Jedi Guy Jul 6 #39

Why poison the land they want to steal? GPV Jul 6 #24

You make a great point, especially when you consider that Russia's military, who will already be pushing back..... FadedMullet Jul 6 #28

Russian military who push back get pushed out of windows SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #29

OK, I'll play your silly game. Nuking Kiev "would not affect the whole country"? Really? Based on what exactly? FadedMullet Jul 6 #30

OP needs to look at a map, as Belarus would not be in a happy place. Emrys Jul 6 #32

Based on the radiation spread of a small tactical nuke SamuelTheThird Jul 7 #49

He's more likely to parachute Taylor Swift in Emrys Jul 6 #31

i intended to achieve discussion SamuelTheThird Jul 6 #35

I think you intended to get attention, as so often. But you don't seem to like it when you get it. Emrys Jul 6 #36

'And there you go again with your Swift obsession, ' SamuelTheThird Jul 7 #50

I thought you were all about her husband now. And no, this thread isn't about nukes. As ever, it's all about YOU. Emrys Jul 7 #57

Sammy the Contrarian - way too many posts here. Try to live with different opinions. And chill. FadedMullet Jul 7 #41

But you don't answer questions when asked. So you select what you want to "discuss". GP6971 Jul 7 #62

What on topic question did I not answer? SamuelTheThird Jul 8 #63

You didn't answer my same question twice... GP6971 Jul 8 #64

I'm not allowed to post there SamuelTheThird Jul 8 #66

No. QueerDuck Jul 6 #33

I give it 50/50 Bookreadingliberal53 Jul 6 #34

If they have one that works still, maybe. haele Jul 6 #38

I think he'd have already done so if he was going to. Jedi Guy Jul 6 #40

At this point... BH liberal Jul 7 #44

If the world allows that to happen without united response....it's all over. walkingman Jul 7 #51

Eventually RandySF Jul 7 #52

Why would the radiate a country they want to takeover? LogDog75 Jul 7 #54

They'd want the farmland in Ukraine, too SamuelTheThird Jul 7 #60

What kind of "mob boss" mentality are we promoting here? WSHazel Jul 7 #55

No one said -anything- about Ukraine stopping what they are doing SamuelTheThird Jul 7 #56

That's what these kinds of posts usually mean when I see them on Xitter. Crunchy Frog Jul 8 #67

Sometimes when it comes to serious issues I turn to music. BannonsLiver Jul 7 #58

LOL mr715 Jul 7 #59

Has anybody mentioned that ethnic Russians and other Russian speakers are the largest minority in Ukraine? FadedMullet Jul 7 #61

Putin cares absolutely nothing about ethnic russians Crunchy Frog Jul 8 #68

That's the most beautiful ugly thing I've seen in a long time. Maru Kitteh Jul 8 #65