The nuclear facts behind Putin’s first-use threat
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The Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised fears among the public about the use of nuclear weapons in Europe or against the United States. This level of
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First lesson: Never believe anything Russia says about its weapons capabilities. They have a history of exaggerating both the numbers and capabilities of their weapons. I suspect the Chinese have learned to do this from the Russians as well. That doesn't mean we should ignore the threats but we need to always take Russian claims with a grain of salt - then verify.
When it comes to nuclear weapons, we are way past the counting game. If even a handful of these weapons strike their targets the consequences to the world would be cataclysmic. A single small nuke exploding over NYC, for example, would obliterate the US economy. Then the economies of most of the developed world would follow. Markets everywhere would crash even if the US did not retaliate. In fact, any nuke detonated in anger, even over the ocean in an act of war would cause all markets to crash out of fear. An all out nuclear war would wipe out the major super powers and probably half the world population in the first hours of the war. I have no doubt the Russians and Chinese know this and this is why they will not resort to using nukes unless provoked by a possible nuclear attack.
Putin is no doubt embarrassed by his inability to subdue Ukraine. Lesson #2: Western Technology is the great equalizer. Now Putin is resorting to words because his army cannot get passed the Ukrainian army that is being supplied with all kinds of western missiles and drones. Putin's tanks are no match for modern anti-tank missiles. This is not to say Putin is not gaining some ground but I am sure he expected to be in control of all Kyiv by now.
All this reminds me of Tom Clancy's "Red Storm Rising" which I read many years ago. Still it is a good read, although the weaponry in that book is ancient compared to what exists today.
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