We'll use nuclear weapons if threatened

[POWERJIM]

Russian army chief: We'll use nuclear weapons if threatened

General Yuri Baluyevsky says Moscow has no plans to attack anyone, but could use nuclear weapons in preventive strikes in case of a major threat.
Russia's military chief of staff said Saturday that Moscow could use nuclear weapons in preventive strikes in case of a major threat, the latest aggressive remarks from increasingly assertive Russian authorities.

"We have no plans to attack anyone, but we consider it necessary for all our partners in the world community to clearly understand ... that to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia and its allies, military forces will be used, including preventively, including with the use of nuclear weapons," General Yuri Baluyevsky said.

The comments from the hawkish Baluyevsky did not appear to mark a policy shift for Russia, whose leaders have stressed the need to maintain a powerful nuclear deterrent and reserved the right to carry out preventive strikes to counter existential threats.

But they were made at a time of increasingly strained relations between Moscow and the West, which are at odds over a range of issues and are embroiled in persistent disputes over US plans for missile defense facilities in former Soviet satellite states that have joined NATO as well as alliance members' refusal to ratify an updated European conventional arms treaty.

[lee thompson]

just russian scaremongering,they like to be heard i think and thats their way of getting noticed.

[chriscarr_78]

Yet another, "Cut 'N' Paste" thread....

The point being?

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by lee thompson

just russian scaremongering,they like to be heard i think and thats their way of getting noticed.

They have been Sabre Rattling alot lately havent they, what with the Russian bombers trying to enter our airspace, is there another cold war on the horizon?

[lee thompson]

did the cold war ever really end? tensions eased but i think the ill feeling is still there.

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by chriscarr_78

Yet another, "Cut 'N' Paste" thread....

The point being?

To inform?

Originally Posted by POWERJIM

They have been Sabre Rattling alot lately havent they, what with the Russian bombers trying to enter our airspace, is there another cold war on the horizon?

From some of the analysis here in the states it has to do with the pride of the Russian people. Some are saying that Russia will never have democratic reforms because the population really wants a Tzarist-type ruling party. Putin has brought back a sense of National pride with his ruling style and especially when he challenges the U.S. Though the U.S. never states it overtly, I am sure many of our top military commanders feel the same as Baluyevsky.

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

From some of the analysis here in the states it has to do with the pride of the Russian people. Some are saying that Russia will never have democratic reforms because the population really wants a Tzarist-type ruling party. Putin has brought back a sense of National pride with his ruling style and especially when he challenges the U.S. Though the U.S. never states it overtly, I am sure many of our top military commanders feel the same as Baluyevsky.

Oh the Russian people are a very proud race indeed, Very Patriotic like you guys in the States which is fine, its just their ideals are very different to our capitalists ideals and is there enough room in the world for 2 major super powers? Not that Russia would have a leg to stand on against the United States in the 21st century, still let us not underestimate Russia too much!

PS. Putin even brought back the Soviet-era National anthem, that in itself speaks volumes on where his head is at.

[lee thompson]

china is another one to watch. a possible ally to russia in an event?

[narcsarge]

Not wanting to get too "heady" PJ but I think power will be determined by market share and effective foreign policy. Russia, China, and the U.S. are more like big corporations now and the battle is more like a boardroom fight rather then military. Sure, military proficiency is necessary but since M.A.D. (mutually assured destruction) exists between Russia, China, and the U.S. I think diplomacy becomes paramount. How well each country does will decide how "powerful" they are.

Right now, I think the U.S. is on shaky ground with it's foreign policy.

[lee thompson]

a good point,i think that the united states foreign policy of now is a result of 9/11.

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by narcsarge

Not wanting to get too "heady" PJ but I think power will be determined by market share and effective foreign policy. Russia, China, and the U.S. are more like big corporations now and the battle is more like a boardroom fight rather then military. Sure, military proficiency is necessary but since M.A.D. (mutually assured destruction) exists between Russia, China, and the U.S. I think diplomacy becomes paramount. How well each country does will decide how "powerful" they are.

Right now, I think the U.S. is on shaky ground with it's foreign policy.

It does seem like WW3 will be fought in the boardrooms rather than on a battlefield doesnt it, interesting point mate. On a side note do you think America is heading towards another Great Depression?

[virus]

Truthfully I believe if a nuclear war/attack is started, it's going to be because a hate group, terrorist group, religious cult or something of that nature rather than a nation itself. Basically its a "you attack us with this weapon of mass destruction, we will retaliate with the same force/weaponandry" ordeal I think.

Same with germ warfare. There are a few instances of it being used but (as a book I read about for school) the threat of an attack in return from an attack keeps nations and its people safe from not using that type of weapons.

Its super scary though. I agree too lee_thompson, I think the tensions 'eased' since the cold war era, but thats about it. Also it's like a guy who has big muscular arms that wears tight shirts to display his "assets" but really is a huge pansy inside. Translation - they are struting/enforcing and letting nations/USA know they have the technology and they have the resources n supply.

Touchy subject nevertheless!

[narcsarge]

Originally Posted by POWERJIM

It does seem like WW3 will be fought in the boardrooms rather than on a battlefield doesnt it, interesting point mate. On a side note do you think America is heading towards another Great Depression?

Not yet. This is just a normal business cycle with a few hiccups thrown in. Bush Sr. had poor economic data which aided in Clinton's election. Before that, Carter had a bad economy and the Iranian Hostages which aided Reagan. Seems about an 8 - 10 year cycle. Pretty normal according to my best friend who is a PHD in Economics. 7 years ago it was all the accounting scandals like Enron that caused havoc. Then 9/11. Now, the housing market. Markets will shake themselves out eventually.

My biggest worry is the amount of foreign debt ownership. China owns most of our dept but they are losing their shirts by investing in the U.S. right now. If they pull out it could cause some big time discomfort. I doubt we will hit the levels of the 1930's though.

Virus:

I agree that it will probably some sort of dirty bomb use that tips the balance. I seriously doubt (maybe shoul use the word HOPE) that the U.S. and the other Nuclear Nations remember the WWII pictures of the victims from Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Those images should be a deterant for most Nations. Terrorists on the other hand could care less.

[ambientdeath]

C'mon lets keep the peace people, have a beer and sit back =)

Never been a fan of war. Unless Hitler v2.0 comes back and needs to be dealt with.

Tbh, the bombs that really scare me too are those EMP pulses that fry electronics/hardrives, think about the way the world is with technology, drop one of those in a major city and it will be recovering from it for a hundred years. Think about the banks, gov't, and just about every major corporation that will crumble.