NYT: U.S. Makes Contingency Plans in Case Russia Uses Its Most Powerful Weapons

[SoonerPride]

The White House has quietly assembled a team of national security officials to sketch out scenarios of how the United States and its allies should respond if President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia — frustrated by his lack of progress in Ukraine or determined to warn Western nations against intervening in the war — unleashes his stockpiles of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

The Tiger Team, as the group is known, is also examining responses if Mr. Putin reaches into NATO territory to attack convoys bringing weapons and aid to Ukraine, according to several officials involved in the process. Meeting three times a week, in classified sessions, the team is also looking at responses if Russia seeks to extend the war to neighboring nations, including Moldova and Georgia, and how to prepare European countries for the refugees flowing in on a scale not seen in decades.

Those contingencies are expected to be central to an extraordinary session here in Brussels on Thursday, when President Biden meets leaders of the 29 other NATO nations, who will be meeting for the first time — behind closed doors, their cellphones and aides banished — since Mr. Putin invaded Ukraine.

Just a month ago, such scenarios seemed more theoretical. But today, from the White House to NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, a recognition has set in that Russia may turn to the most powerful weapons in its arsenal to bail itself out of a military stalemate.

More at the link

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/us/politics/biden-russia-nuclear-weapons.html?referringSource=articleShare

[highplainsdem]

1. This fits with what Martha Raddatz said this evening about

Russia possibly striking inside Poland to stop arms sent to Ukraine.

[PortTack]

2. Pootie thinks this will end the stalemate? that is an understatement. More like the beginning of the

End for him and his ragtag military

[orwell]

3. Thank you Mr. President...

...You are the right person for this moment!

[brer cat]

4. I'm very glad Joe Biden and his advisors are making these calls.

I would not want that weight on my shoulders.