U.S. steps up intel, surveillance after Putin's nuke threats

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

U.S. and allied intelligence agencies are stepping up efforts to detect any Russian military moves or communications that might signal that Vladimir Putin has ordered the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, according to five current and former U.S. officials.

But any indications that the erratic Russian leader has decided to unleash the unthinkable — in a desperate attempt to re-seize the initiative or bully the international community to meet his demands — could come too late, they warned.

Most of Russia’s aircraft, along with its conventional missile and rocket launchers, can also deliver smaller, tactical nuclear weapons. Those weapons are designed for more targeted use on the battlefield than strategic arms such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, which give off tell-tale signs when their units are put on alert or mustered in training exercises.

That means that unless Putin or his commanders want the world to know in advance, the U.S. might never know when Russian forces have swapped out conventional munitions for atomic bombs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/u-s-steps-up-intel-surveillance-after-putin-s-nuke-threats/ar-AA12jaaV

[intrepidity]

1. The real question is: how would we respond?

I think Putin knows we would not retaliate in kind.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Once Putin uses nukes, the rest of Europe is threatened.

Action of some sort will have to be taken to contain Putin.

If no action is taken, our enemies will know western democracies are foolish and weak.

[intrepidity]

3. Yes, some action

But nukes? I can't even imagine.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

4. Probably not nukes,

but targeted precision strikes against Russian assets like ADF, troop concentrations, etc,
let's face it, US/NATO forces far outmatch Russian forces in equipment, command and control, training, etc.

Putin would rue the day if he used tactical nukes in Ukr, he would lose any support he might have had from China, India and just about the whole world.

[Irish_Dem]

7. I wouldn't rule out NATO using nukes if Putin's behavior is egregious and Europe is in danger.

Biden was sending the strongest warning, telling Putin the US response would be "catastrophic."

So it all depends upon what Putin does to provoke a response.

I think your scenario is one of the plans.

It is almost certain Biden and the Pentagon have gamed out a number of responses.

I do disagree on the China response. I would think China would know and give permission to Putin to use nukes.

China and Russia are allied for the long haul, to become superpowers they must get regional control at any cost.

China does not want Putin to lose the Ukrainian war. China might pretend to be unhappy with the nukes, but not really.
If Putin gets away with it in Ukraine, China would not hesitate to do the same to Taiwan.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

8. Let us hope that cooler heads in Moscow depose Putin

and put a stop to his madness.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. That's My Guess

There are rich powerful Russians who know there is no winning a nuclear war.
It's bad for business & would turn them into an oligarchy with domain over nothing.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Putin might listen to Xi.

If Xi thinks it is in China's best interests for Putin to cool it, Putin may have to listen.

In China there is something called Guanxi. This refers to the transactional nature of business and social relationships.
If you accept a favor from someone, the favor must be repaid. Or there is an imbalance.

China and Russia want to be superpowers this century. Putin screwed up his part of the plan big time.
Humiliated himself and China who had to bail him out with money and weapons.

Putin is now on the hook with China, and he knows it.
That is part of why he has to win Ukraine at any costs.

But China expects payment and will get it.
So Xi has leverage over Putin right now.

I don't know how vulnerable Putin is from internal pressures.
Do his insiders have the power to dispose him?
Hitler's generals tried it on a number of occasions to no avail.

Putin is said to be hunkering down in one of his underground remote retreats.
Can he maintain power hidden away?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

13. Great info on China,

I did not know that about them and I think you're on the right track.

I guess we're in a wait and see game right now.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Yes we don't know what will happen.

It is still important to speculate and game out scenarios.
I don't like surprises.

Human nature is similar the world over.
But each culture has a unique social psychology.

China is watching Russia closely and will amend its own plans.
And use all of it to their advantage.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Biden said his response will depend upon what Putin does.

So we don't know what Biden will do.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

6. I remember during the Cold War, Soviet leaders went nuts

trying to figure out if and when the US would use nukes against them because US leaders never let on what would be the red line crossed, something Pres. Biden is employing today.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Exactly. The old brinkmanship on display again.

JFK was brilliant during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

We can see that Biden is very angry and disgusted by the brutal behavior of Putin, who is a true psychopath.

My read of Biden is that part of him is affable, charming, good natured.

But there is a part of him you don't really want to mess with and Putin may learn about this the hard way.

I think Biden and JFK are similar in this regard.

I do think there is a limit to how many raped, tortured and murdered women and children Biden can put up with.

I feel certain Biden told the Pentagon war strategy section to come up with ALL responses to Putin.
Nothing off the table. If it leaks to Putin, all the better.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

11. Agreed.

Pres. Biden is a political veteran of the Cold War, he knows exactly what he's doing and the Russian Generals are probably thinking to themselves, whoa!!! What the hell has Putin gotten us into?

[Irish_Dem]

14. Russian generals may find impending death has a way of clarifying the mind.

Yes very good point. The psychological mojo is in our favor with Biden.

He is no pushover, knows what he is doing and cannot be manipulated or frightened.

Biden sent diplomats to Moscow delivering a personal message to Putin, and it left no
doubt about Biden's mindset.

Add this to my previous description of Biden's personalty, the Russian generals have to be
thinking twice about everything. I agree.