this post was submitted on 21 May 2024
183 points (92.6% liked)

World News

39142 readers
3439 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Russia amps up nuclear threat.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] khannie@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

There need to be clear consequences for breaking the taboo before he does it, otherwise he'll do it.

He has shown how little he cares for what others think of his breaking of taboos.

[–] SaltySalamander@fedia.io 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Again, what would your response be? How exactly do you punish a nuclear nation?

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm not sure and I think there are people with more expertise who will come up with better solutions but I do feel like a tactical nuke is his trump card so I expect him to play it if things go worse for him given their comparatively low yield and very high shock value.

I think if a response was laid out to him in advance he might be less likely to cross that line. As it stands he can more or less choose to use a tactical nuke on Ukrainian soil knowing that much hand wringing will follow.

One example might be to say that Ukraine will be given a tactical nuke for use at their discretion on the battlefield for each one he uses. It would certainly cause pause for thought whether or not it was even followed through on.

[–] SaltySalamander@fedia.io 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If you think a nuke being dropped won't warrant an immediate military response, you're a moron.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

I don't think there's any need for the name calling. I was engaging with you in good faith despite the differing viewpoints.

Yes, I believe a small yield tactical nuke in the kiloton range, possibly in the arse end of nowhere, would not elicit an immediate military response because they haven't said up front the response it would elicit. The West has shown itself to be absolutely afraid of escalation which other potential adversaries are taking careful note of.

Putin is desperate to hold on to power and this war that has cost untold number of Russian lives is the first thing that has shown any sign of potentially costing him that power. So sure, I think a 30KT tactical nuke in the arse end of nowhere to change the conversation could happen.

If NATO had been clear about the response if he does I believe he'd be less likely to do it, but they haven't and it stinks of not wanting to upset him along with every other weak arsed decision they've made out of a misplaced fear to not antagonise him.

Since you've been asking me what the response would be, what do you think the response would be by the West to a small yield tactical nuke in the arse end of nowhere?