Senior US official: "All bets are off" on US, NATO staying out of war if Putin uses tactical nukes

[highplainsdem]

in Ukraine. Not just against a NATO member.

This was possibly the most important paragraph in a NY Times story this evening, and a tweet from Russia expert Julia Davis highlighted it:

Link to tweet

The statement was about 20 paragraphs into the long story, and it wasn't quoted in an OP posted here earlier tonight about the story.

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

A senior administration official said any use of a “small” tactical nuclear bomb by Russia — even inside Ukraine and not directed at a NATO member — would mean that “all bets are off” on the United States and NATO staying out of the war. But when pushed, the official declined to lay out the responses under discussion.

[70sEraVet]

2. I agree wholeheartedly how NATO (and Prez Biden) have handled this thus far

But Putin NEEDS to know that chemical, biological or nuclear weapons are 'beyond the pale'.
It would be Putin hiding in the 'spider hole' this time!

[BigmanPigman]

3. I would hope so.

[Hoyt]

4. Never any doubt.

[Doodley]

5. That sounds like WW3, the final war.

[roamer65]

6. If Putler goes chemical, then we should provide VX and sarin munitions to Ukraine.

BUT, I think and hope it won’t go that far.

🤞

[newswatcher22]

7. Absolutely

NATO will have to respond.
And Putin loses China, and the BRICS and the lukewarm Global South.
At the moment it is mostly the West against.
The entry of "tactical nukes" will be his undoing.