Risk of nuclear war in Europe growing

[seeder]

Risk of nuclear war in Europe growing, warns Russian ex-minister

The East-West standoff over the Ukraine crisis has brought the threat of nuclear war in Europe closer than at any time since the 1980s, a former Russian foreign minister warned on Saturday.

"The risk of confrontation with the use of nuclear weapons in Europe is higher than in the 1980s," said Igor Ivanov, Russia's foreign minister from 1998 to 2004 and now head of a Moscow-based think-tank founded by the Russian government.

While Russia and the United States have cut their nuclear arsenals, the pace is slowing. As of January 2015, they had just over 7,000 nuclear warheads each, about 90 percent of world stocks, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

"We have less nuclear warheads, but the risk of them being used is growing," Ivanov said at a Brussels event with the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Poland and a U.S. lawmaker.

NATO's secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has warned Russia of intimidating its neighbors with talk about nuclear weapons, publicly voicing concerns among Western officials.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-idUSKCN0WL0EV

[docyabut2]

Russia and the United States would never have a nuke war, been through it for years and it is why we always had a cold war, both know there would be no winners. I would worry more about N Korea and Iran in cahoots sharing their technology to attack the world, a crazy dictator and a faith of the Islam crazy extremists.

Edited March 19, 2016 by docyabut2

[+and-then]

I think the greatest danger to the US will be in the next 10 months. Russia and China know that no other US president will be as clueless and weak as the current one. They will push for the most they can grab while they can.

[Gingitsune]

For the moment, both USA and Russia are avoiding direct confrontation. Just seeing how Putin didn't escalate the Turkey downing one of his plane incident reassure me (although Turkey is crazy, but that's another issue). Putin did the proxy war thing, arming the Kurds, which may destroy Turkey on a budget in the end.

For Ukraine, the conflict has been on a stale for months now, I don't think anything will come out of it. Russia get back Crimea, she created a ongoing unrest on Ukraine's territory, which disqualify the country for a NATO application, I don't think things will move on the coming years. It will end up like Transnistria in Moldavia or South Ossetia in Georgia, staled conflict.

I'm much more worried by North Korea and Pakistan. Kim Jong Un seems to the kind of guy who'll go down in the most powerful bang, if his downfall seems imminent. And Pakistan, a country barely keeping together, who would end up with the bomb if she implode, your guess is as good as mine. -_-

[stevewinn]

Nuclear war is out of the question unless the homelands of America or Russia are directly threatened and the possibility of them falling. I cannot see Russia or America exchanging nuclear strikes over Ukraine. what would be the prize? your mutually assured destruction.

[bmk1245]

Nuclear war is out of the question unless the homelands of America or Russia are directly threatened and the possibility of them falling. I cannot see Russia or America exchanging nuclear strikes over Ukraine. what would be the prize? your mutually assured destruction.

Nope. If shorty KGBist will feel being threatened to be overthrown, he will use whatever means to stay in power, even nuclear strike against Western countries. From a man, who called mothers/wifes of dead Kursk submariners being hired prostitutes, you can expect everything. He is more dangerous than Kim Jong-un.

[stevewinn]

Nope. If shorty KGBist will feel being threatened to be overthrown, he will use whatever means to stay in power, even nuclear strike against Western countries. From a man, who called mothers/wifes of dead Kursk submariners being hired prostitutes, you can expect everything. He is more dangerous than Kim Jong-un.

He'd use whatever means possible to stay in power, even striking a western country with a nuclear weapon? you cannot seriously think that? Even if we entertain that idea for a second. What would Putin be in power of once the retaliation comes, a completely destroyed Russia? He may be mad, but he'd have to be a lunatic to do anything of the sort. I've read a few books on Putin, it doesn't make me an expert i know, but, it gives an insight to the man. He doesnt come across as unhinged far from it.

[Katzenking]

The risk of a nuclear confrontation between the West and Russia has not changed since the 1950s. The end of the cold war has not made any difference. If both fire all their warheads both sides will be destroyed together with the rest of the world. This could happen may be by accident or misunderstanding. In the 1980s were 2 or 3 incidents in which we narrow escaped... Mostly triggered by paranoia on the Russian side...

What could be more likely is the idea of tactical nuclear weapons used on the battlefield. A so called 'limited nuclear warfare'... I am afraid that in a conflict on the European continent this would be inevitable since NATO obviously doesn't has enough conventional troops...

And I am sure that this would get out of control very soon.

Looking elsewhere in the world there is first of all an absolute ruler in North Korea. It is unpredictable what goes on in his mind...

Iran has an authocratic regime based on... Religion!!! Thank God they got no nukes yet... but I rather wouldn't trust them.

Pakistan has the fastest growing nuclear arsenal. This is very dangerous since there are many radicals in this country who could probably try to get their hands on it.

[Crabby Kitten]

Oh dear. Regurjitating Cold War fears now in the 21st Century. There's more likely a threat from North Korea today.

[bmk1245]

He'd use whatever means possible to stay in power, even striking a western country with a nuclear weapon? you cannot seriously think that? Even if we entertain that idea for a second. What would Putin be in power of once the retaliation comes, a completely destroyed Russia? He may be mad, but he'd have to be a lunatic to do anything of the sort. I've read a few books on Putin, it doesn't make me an expert i know, but, it gives an insight to the man. He doesnt come across as unhinged far from it.

Putin isn't that different from Kim Jong-un, so yes, nuking west is on the table. With so called anti-sanctions, and, recently, lowering living wage, he have shown how he "cares" about Russian people. So, millions perishing in nuclear war, won't stop him.

[Astra.]

Putin isn't that different from Kim Jong-un, so yes, nuking west is on the table. With so called anti-sanctions, and, recently, lowering living wage, he have shown how he "cares" about Russian people. So, millions perishing in nuclear war, won't stop him.

Really ? - how you could put Putin in the same basket as porky Kim Jong-un is simply beyond me.

IMO - Putin is an intelligent leader who takes charge of things. He certainly isn't a corporate puppet (like other Presidents we know of)

He brought his country back from the brink of death when he took over - and it has never looked back. Sure - Russia has it's problems (what country doesn't ?) but hell - I'd trust Putin more than I would ever trust that other warmongering - trigger happy little twit who doesn't give a ***k at all about his own people.

[Thanato]

Putin isn't that different from Kim Jong-un, so yes, nuking west is on the table. With so called anti-sanctions, and, recently, lowering living wage, he have shown how he "cares" about Russian people. So, millions perishing in nuclear war, won't stop him.

Putin is incredibly different the little Kim.

For one he is a great tactician. He is smart. He know what he can get away with with out serious blowbac (Russian expansions into Georgia and the Ukraine).

Putin will not risk nuclear war unless russia is faced with complete destruction from the outside. He's not stupid.

[seeder]

The Real Likelihood of a Nuclear War

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, who served as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy in the Reagan administration, shares his view that there is a real likelihood of a nuclear war breaking out. Below are the main points covered in this radio programme.

“Firstly there is the Wolfowitz doctrine, which basically makes it clear that the United States should prevent the rise of any state that could present sufficient power to threaten American unilateral action. Russia has risen and has displayed such power. This is the reason for the constant demonisation of Russia’s leader. We have the number one candidate for the democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, who now compares the President of Russia with Hitler. So what has happened is that every American president during my lifetime, especially Nixon and Reagan, worked to create trust between the two major nuclear powers. But beginning with the Clinton regime, the trust that had been achieved was progressively destroyed.”

“When you destroy trust between nuclear powers you recreate the possibility of nuclear war, either by intent, or miscalculation. So this is a reckless and irresponsible act on the part of Washington. The information war that is going on now is to prepare the American population and NATO allies for military conflict with Russia. We now have high level people in the US government and military who go to Congress and say that Russia is an existential threat. This is rubbish! You have to remember that before the wars started in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria, it was the constant demonisation of the leaders of the governments, against the Tailban, Saddam Hussein, Gaddafi and Assad. When you see these kinds of demonisation it fits a pattern.”

do read more

http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2016/03/24/the-real-likelihood-of-a-nuclear-war-paul-craig-roberts/

[SHaYap]

The very same pattern of modus operandi is widely practiced here on UM too ~

~

~

[Finity]

TBH. I'd trust Putin more than Trump. Trump is clearly mentaly unstable, where as Putin at least has some self control.

[pallidin]

For "emotionally" developed nations, such as the U.S., Russia and China, nuclear first-strike or exchange seems unlikely given the totality of destruction.

For rouge nations, such as N. Korea and others, their maturity on this matter seems less than favorable.

Edited March 29, 2016 by pallidin

[Grey Area]

TBH. I'd trust Putin more than Trump. Trump is clearly mentaly unstable, where as Putin at least has some self control.

Well Putin is a seasoned politician. Trump is a capitalist business man who owns his own little empire. He may think that this qualifies him for public office, but I do believe he will be in for a rude awakening if he is ever elected. He will find out just how many bosses an elected member has.

As for nuclear war. It never ceases to amaze me how people think that a government is just one person. While executive authority may lie with a single person, that person will be listening to Defence ministers, senior officers, strategists, PR advisors, opposition parties, allies, and the list could go on. Add into the mix, real people on the front line who actually have to push the respective buttons.

I honestly believe if a nuke is ever to be launched, it will be an accident, perhaps a malfunction that triggers a response. The most likely scenario for nuclear war would be the collapse of a nuclear power and a third party securing the launch sites. We should all probably be doing our level best to ensure the US and Russia never collapse.

[Hartmut]

Silly, no superpower would go to a nuclear war over a little country . That ex-foreign minister, or whatever he was, is nothing but a fear monger. :-(

[LV-426]

For rouge nations, such as N. Korea and others

Meme time!

Edited March 30, 2016 by LV-426

[bmk1245]

Really ? - how you could put Putin in the same basket as porky Kim Jong-un is simply beyond me.

IMO - Putin is an intelligent leader who takes charge of things. He certainly isn't a corporate puppet (like other Presidents we know of)

He brought his country back from the brink of death when he took over - and it has never looked back. Sure - Russia has it's problems (what country doesn't ?) but hell - I'd trust Putin more than I would ever trust that other warmongering - trigger happy little twit who doesn't give a ***k at all about his own people.

Heh, you have little thingy for Put, aren't you...

"He brought his country back from the brink of death when he took over"... Gimme a break. With oil/gas prices skyrocketing there were some improvements, but not so much nowadays. And you, implying that he cares for his own people... It's just laughable. What happened with so called anti-sanctions? Many people lost their jobs, went out of business. Western countries found some loopholes in all this anti-sanction affair, for example, Lithuanian cheese is sold as Argentinian, and guess what are the prices of that "Argentinian cheese"? Take a guess... Next thing, Russkies lowered minimum living wage (on that depends social benefits, i.e. pensions, student scholarships, etc). Combine that with more expensive living cost, and you'll get an idea of how he "cares" about his people.

In all... All he cares is about himself and his buddies oligarchs (Rottenbergs, Timchenko, Malofeev, etc), nothing more. Heck, Silvio Berlusconi looks like an angel in comparison with Put In.

[bmk1245]

Putin is incredibly different the little Kim.

For one he is a great tactician. He is smart. He know what he can get away with with out serious blowbac (Russian expansions into Georgia and the Ukraine).

Putin will not risk nuclear war unless russia is faced with complete destruction from the outside. He's not stupid.

Not incredibly, just softer, for now. For you to call him "great tactician"?! Gosh... Then every thug, punching you from behind, and then robbing you, is a "great tactician"... Yes he knows, that he can cause turmoils in neighborhood countries, but thats not his "smarts", thats sissyish behavior of western world (I wonder, how many Brits/French/etc thought Hitler was a good guy, before WWII...). Monkey, with grenade (nuclear), I'd describe nowadays Russia. Would you trust monkey, playing with fingers around a pin?

And finally, yes, I'm pretty sure, Put In will use any means to prevent demise of his reign.

[Astra.]

Heh, you have little thingy for Put, aren't you...

"He brought his country back from the brink of death when he took over"... Gimme a break. With oil/gas prices skyrocketing there were some improvements, but not so much nowadays. And you, implying that he cares for his own people... It's just laughable. What happened with so called anti-sanctions? Many people lost their jobs, went out of business. Western countries found some loopholes in all this anti-sanction affair, for example, Lithuanian cheese is sold as Argentinian, and guess what are the prices of that "Argentinian cheese"? Take a guess... Next thing, Russkies lowered minimum living wage (on that depends social benefits, i.e. pensions, student scholarships, etc). Combine that with more expensive living cost, and you'll get an idea of how he "cares" about his people.

In all... All he cares is about himself and his buddies oligarchs (Rottenbergs, Timchenko, Malofeev, etc), nothing more. Heck, Silvio Berlusconi looks like an angel in comparison with Put In.

Well in comparisson to other dictators that the Russian people have had to put up with - Putin is surely the best one for nearly half of a century or there about's.

Lets face it - Khruschev was almost an illiterate idiot - Brezhnev continued the rule as an old guy who barely could put two words together - Yeltsin was a drunk and Gorbachev was simply another fool.

Putin on the other hand - comes across as a strong and deliberate leader. He's also sports minded and he doesn't drink.

Sure - the people of Russia may have further to go before becoming a full democracy (if ever) - but there has certainly been an improvement under Putin's leadership IMHO...

Rising living standards[edit]

In 2005, Putin launched National Priority Projects in the fields of health care, education, housing and agriculture. In his May 2006 annual speech, Putin proposed increasing maternity benefits and prenatal care for women. Putin was strident about the need to reform the judiciary considering the present federal judiciary "Sovietesque", wherein many of the judges hand down the same verdicts as they would under the old Soviet judiciary structure, and preferring instead a judiciary that interpreted and implemented the code to the current situation. In 2005, responsibility for federal prisons was transferred from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Justice.

The most high-profile change within the national priority project frameworks was probably the 2006 across-the-board increase in wages in healthcare and education, as well as the decision to modernise equipment in both sectors in 2006 and 2007.

During Putin's government, poverty was cut more than half[14][15] and real GDP has grown rapidly.

https://en.wikipedia..._Vladimir_Putin

[Astra.]

Meme time!

LOL...

[Likely Guy]

The very same pattern of modus operandi is widely practiced here on UM too ~

~

~

Damn you. I won't be able to sleep for a week after seeing that.

[Likely Guy]

Meme time!

Damn you too!