This seems like fairly obvious all-bark-no-bite sabre rattling. It's another step in the brinkmanship. I find it difficult to feel any sort of worry over this news. But maybe I am naive.
This seems like fairly obvious all-bark-no-bite sabre rattling. It's another step in the brinkmanship. I find it difficult to feel any sort of worry over this news. But maybe I am naive.
I agree that these sorts of things are not inevitable. The indefinite anti-Russia posture can often be blinding as to what's truly more of the same in Russia and what's a deviation from...
I agree that these sorts of things are not inevitable. The indefinite anti-Russia posture can often be blinding as to what's truly more of the same in Russia and what's a deviation from established norms. Though the fact that the US and most nuclear powers never ratified the treaty makes this somewhat less significant.
I don't really know much about any of this so these are my amateur opinions, but I wonder if this is just an extension of the "EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET US SO WE NEED TO DEFEND OURSELVES" propaganda...
I don't really know much about any of this so these are my amateur opinions, but I wonder if this is just an extension of the "EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET US SO WE NEED TO DEFEND OURSELVES" propaganda that Putin utilizes pretty heavily?
I remember reading an article awhile back that said historically, Russian society looked to strong defense in a good leader. This is exploited by Putin often in his "The West" vs "Us" mentality.
I would agree it's just more saber rattling, but also agree with @Olrox in their comment about the adjustment to global "norms" that this will affect.
And as an aside about something that I often think about related to nuclear weapons. I wonder about the aging fleet of warheads and rockets sitting god knows where in both the US and Russia, and what happens to those as time goes on?
I know we've already had close calls in the US in relation to the bombs - the story about someone dropping a big socket wrench and almost setting one off is eye opening -- also the story about the bombs that fell in North Carolina and didn't explode only because of apparent dumb luck - are both quite frightening. Honestly, I think failure due to attrition will be the next big thing that happens with a nuclear warhead, versus one being fired intentionally.
Edit to add: of course, a "rogue entity" getting their hands on one and then using it in a terrorist attack is also possible
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban, a move that Moscow said was needed to establish parity with the United States.
Putin has said that rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT, would “mirror” the stand taken by the U.S., which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban.
The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, but the treaty was never fully implemented. In addition to the U.S., it has yet to be ratified by China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt.
There are widespread concerns that Russia may resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Many Russian hawks have spoken in favor of a resumption of the tests.
This seems like fairly obvious all-bark-no-bite sabre rattling. It's another step in the brinkmanship. I find it difficult to feel any sort of worry over this news. But maybe I am naive.
I agree that these sorts of things are not inevitable. The indefinite anti-Russia posture can often be blinding as to what's truly more of the same in Russia and what's a deviation from established norms. Though the fact that the US and most nuclear powers never ratified the treaty makes this somewhat less significant.
I don't really know much about any of this so these are my amateur opinions, but I wonder if this is just an extension of the "EVERYONE IS OUT TO GET US SO WE NEED TO DEFEND OURSELVES" propaganda that Putin utilizes pretty heavily?
I remember reading an article awhile back that said historically, Russian society looked to strong defense in a good leader. This is exploited by Putin often in his "The West" vs "Us" mentality.
I would agree it's just more saber rattling, but also agree with @Olrox in their comment about the adjustment to global "norms" that this will affect.
And as an aside about something that I often think about related to nuclear weapons. I wonder about the aging fleet of warheads and rockets sitting god knows where in both the US and Russia, and what happens to those as time goes on?
I know we've already had close calls in the US in relation to the bombs - the story about someone dropping a big socket wrench and almost setting one off is eye opening -- also the story about the bombs that fell in North Carolina and didn't explode only because of apparent dumb luck - are both quite frightening. Honestly, I think failure due to attrition will be the next big thing that happens with a nuclear warhead, versus one being fired intentionally.
Edit to add: of course, a "rogue entity" getting their hands on one and then using it in a terrorist attack is also possible
No, Russia. We know you have nukes. Punching yourself some more isn't going to change that.