B-1 83 said:
Rossticus said:
jabberwalkie09 said:
Iirc Mig-31K's with Khinzals were spotted landing at that base. I think that's Russias new plane launched hypersonic missile. They were supposed to be testing those in their tactical weapons drills/training this week.
If Russia uses even small tactical nukes there's no way it isn't seen as a much grander provocation to all of Europe. Using nuclear tipped hypersonic missiles is a huge middle finger to EU, UK, and US. That's a direct threat of "I do what I want, when I want, and I'll do it to you if you piss me off".
That would force NATO's hand. You'd have to shut him down. **** me.
The former head of the KGB is not stupid enough to let that genie out of the bottle. He's just showing the bottle.
I've been digging through a lot of Eastern European media and various intelligence analyst interviews recently and there's a firm feeling that Putin feels like this may be the last chance for Russia's return to greatness and that he's the only one with the resolve to make it happen.
Couple that with his conviction that Europe and USA are too soft to follow through and you can see where he might talk himself into it.
I agree that it would be crazy and a purely rationally thinking person, from our perspective wouldn't do it. And I don't THINK he'd do it. But there's enough reason for doubt in my mind to make me a tad uneasy nonetheless.
Lukashenka has been getting REALLY mouthy the last couple of days so you know Putin still thinks he can ratchet up the pressure further to back everyone off. I just wonder what happens if nobody blinks.