"Russia And NATO Prepare For Possible War?" Topic

"Tensions continues to ramp up between Russia and the United States, as geopolitical manoeuvers unfold. The uneasy peace between the Eastern and Western superpowers seems to be deteriorating further, with both sides taking action which has resulted in distrust increasing further.

Just last week, the Russian supremo Vladimir Putin announced that Russia intended to expand its existing nuclear arsenal. This move would see the nation establishing forty new intercontinental ballistic missiles to add to its existing quota. Considering that Russia and the United States collectively have in the region of 15,000 nuclear warheads, one might not unreasonably wonder what is the point of Russia acquiring another forty. There is no doubt that should the United States or Russia ever fire a nuclear weapon at one another, the ultimate result would be unprecedented and unimaginable global devastation.

Unfortunately, both Russia and the United States have engaged in actions in recent months which have resulted in the diplomatic situation between the two nations deteriorating. The latest increase in nuclear weapons announced by Russia seems to have led to a new phase of posturing and military manoeuvres, which is the latest in a phase of rising tensions that began with the Ukraine conflict back in 2013…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Is that the one where they ran out of money and fell into virtual economic collapse?

I don't recall it being "virtual". It was actual.

..the only difference being perhaps that the first time around for a variety of reasons Russia sought to achieve change and a new order. There was ALWAYS the other option – use the shiny toys they could not afford and grab as much a they could to change the paradigm.
This time around there are some differences – a weaker NATO (the way it was going in the 70's before the Ronnie and Maggie act added some balls) – economic weakness, divisions, military weakness… and a lunatic in the Kremlin who would rather go down in a blaze of glory than blink…

They still can't afford it but they may use it….

All rather worrying don't ye know.

Won't happen till after 2018 World Cup,hosted by Russia,the World cup trumps World War.

I hope the investigation will show, that FIFA was bribed for 2018 host choice, and they'll move the World Cup elsewhere. I guess after humilation of our team, we might get more targets for an invasion….

Even if it did there are very few countries ,who could host at such short notice,England,Germany,maybe Italy and U.S.A.I am sure FIFA will drag its feet on this.

Surely, if Putin plays for the Russian team you all will win, since I suspect his hockey prowess will transfer to the soccer field as well, even if the Cup isn't held in Russia.

I've read he is a terrific goal scorer.

I don't think the Russians or the US have the $$$ for an all out WWIII. Not even counting the meager forces of much of the rest of NATO. But put most of the non-US NATO forces together, then you may have something (?). If they can afford it ? Which is unlikely too, IMO. Save for the Turks. Who have 2d largest military in NATO. But they may be too buy NOT fitting Daesh and setting up defenses against the Kurds … to get involved …

The only way this is going to happen is if Putin spends his own money, that he's embezzled from the Russian people over the years. I don't think he's going to tap into his retirement account!

This move would see the nation establishing forty new intercontinental ballistic missiles to add to its existing quota. Considering that Russia and the United States collectively have in the region of 15,000 nuclear warheads, one might not unreasonably wonder what is the point of Russia acquiring another forty.

Warheads are a payload. Missiles are a delivery platform. There's a big difference between the two. The more relevant numbers are in the linked article ( link ) which points out that the US has 450 Minuteman ICBMs and Russia has slightly more. So an expansion of 40 missiles is about 8.5% increase in throw weight….just this year alone. That's pretty significant IMO.

NATO preparing for war… isn't this the purpose of NATO, to be prepared?

I'm more concerned when NATO is not preparing.

"Pray for Peace … But prepare for War." Any military that is not preparing for war constantly. Will find that the learning curve for those unprepared is very, very steep and most likely very bloody …

In a sane world, NATO would have already been prepared for war with Russia, that being most of the point of the organization.

-Kle.

In a sane world,

That concept was kicked to the cube when the islamists decided to go on jihad with the West. As well as with each other. For a number of reasons. Plus blame the West for all their centuries old ills, etc. … And the Arab Spring turned out to be a regions wide islamic civil war. With the infidel being priorty targets in the mix somehow. And the Russians took full advantage of the West's wars with the islamists. To make some moves in their favor. In spite of the West's disagreements, etc. … Yes, the Russian's had their own islamists to deal with in the past. But that has not stopped them on their quest for a "Neo-Russia". And go back to the good old days of the [Communist] Russian Empire.

This is the same corrupt band of thieves that have not actually managed to absorb any Ukrainian territory after more than a year of fighting on an area so small that it'd be a statistical error to a cold war planner?

Not exactly going to be rolling through Germany any day now, are we?

(This is completely dismissing that Russia has largely zero mass-scale warmaking efforts at the moment for the simple reason that they can't pay for it.).

I wouldn't exactly stay awake all night worrying.

Nah, no need for that Kle, since peace is breaking out spontaneously nearly everywhere, and we now live in the most peaceful age, ever, or so I'm told by some.

Russia may have its own problems with ISiS shortly. Increased attacks in the south prompted Putin to call Obama this week. I wonder how much sarcasm there was in that phone…

Probably just as much sarcasm as crow, Geoff.

40 missiles could easily pack 400 warheads plus decoys and other penetration aids.