« previous | TPM CAFÉ READER POSTS HOME | next »
If U.S. Attacks Russia, Russia will Use Nuclear Weapons
On Democracy Now, Retired Air Force Col. Sam Gardiner says, “If U.S. Attacks Russia, Russia will Use Nuclear Weapons”
Gardiner interview also on YouTube
On little notice to Americans, the Russians learned at the end of the first Gulf War that they couldn’t—they didn’t think they could deal with the United States, given the value and the quality of American precision conventional weapons. The Russians put into their doctrine a statement, and have broadcast it very loudly, that if the United States were to use precision conventional weapons against Russian troops, the Russians would be forced to respond with tactical nuclear weapons. They continue to state this. They practice this in their exercise. They’ve even had exercises that very closely paralleled what went on in Ossetia, where there was an independence movement, they intervene conventionally to put down the independence movement, the United States and NATO responds with conventional air strikes, they then respond with tactical nuclear weapons.
It appears to me as if the Russians were preparing themselves to do that in this case. First of all, I think they believe the United States was going to intervene. At a news conference on Sunday, the deputy national security adviser said we have noted that the Russians have introduced two SS-21 medium-range ballistic missile launchers into South Ossetia. Now, let me say a little footnote about those. They’re both conventional and nuclear. They have a relatively small conventional warhead, however. So, the military significance, if they were to be conventional, was almost trivial compared to what the Russians could deliver with the aircraft that they were using to strike the Georgians.
I think this was a signal. I think this was an implementation on their part of their doctrine. It clearly appears as if they expected the United States to do what they had practiced in their exercises. In fact, this morning, the Russians had an air defense exercise in the southern part of Russia that borders Georgia in which they—it was practicing shooting down incursion aircraft that were incursion into Russia. They were prepared for the United States to intervene, and I think they were prepared—or at least they were wanting to show the United States that their doctrine of the use of tactical nuclear weapons, if the US attacks, was serious, and they needed to take—the United States needs to take Russia very seriously.
Advertisement
Comments (11)
Putin is a neo-Communist creep, and Medvedev is his puppet.
August 12, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whether we like it or not, Putin and Medvedev are legally elected officers of Russia. Putin has done a remarkable job of returning Russia from the brink of criminal anarchy and while it is still bad, it is at least livable for its citizens.
August 12, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Russia needs to be told clearly that if they use nuclear weapons against US forces we will respond in kind. We will not be blackmailed. This is more evidence as to why we need a ballistic missile defense system. Of course Obama is against it.
August 12, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
So it goes ...
August 12, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Donal, I understand and agree completely that this is a dangerous flashpoint. I believe Russia's position on the use of tactical or theater nukes makes U.S. intervention in Georgia unteneable. I also think Putin is a creep for even considering unleashing the nuclear genie. The same goes for McCain and Bulldog.
August 12, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Intercontinental ballistic missile defense systems don't work at any level of operational confidence. A theater-level (as in European theater) ballistic missile defense system would be even less able to del with multiple warhead missiles, given shorter flight times, steeper trajectories, etc. Your plan would result in the loss of several major world capitals. Nice work.
August 12, 2008 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dog,
I'm not trying to become your personal troll here, but get a grip, man! Of course, Russia understands that if they use Nukes we will too. That policy (MAD) is what has kept us from directly engaging each other over the last 60 years. The consequences of any conventional weapons engagement escalating into the nuclear extinction of ALL LIFE on the planet are too great. No one is blackmailing us. Other countries have their own national interest as do we.
Bush has been trying to convert a former Soviet Republic (Georgia) into a current Russian adversary by having them admitted to NATO. In fact, much of this conflict has its roots in Bush admin. policy.
There is no conceivable ballistic missile shield that would stop all of the hydrogen bombs in the Russian arsenal. Just a single H-bomb would entirely obliterate any U.S. city. In fact, the very idea of a partial ballistic missile defense in itself increases the likelihood of a nuclear exchange. Why? Because it weakens the very concept underlying MAD that has obviously worked. So, your cheap shot at Obama being weak on national defense betrays your own ignorance of the subject.
What is it with you neocons, anyway? Are you all impotent, or something? Neocons seem so anxious to prove their own manhood by forcing the country into highly aggressive behavior. Get a Viagra prescription for goodness sake.
August 12, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
What the fuck is our national interest in all of this? I don't get it.
August 12, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
To stoke the US military ego. "Something happened. It must have something to do with us. And if not, we should make it so."
Russia is doing for the Ossetians what the US did for the Kosovars. Namely, 1.) providing the force necessary for an independent people to continue governing themselves and 2.) removing from power the leaders that supported oppressive and violent actions against said independent group.
This is all further complicated by NATO enlargement, oil pipelines and ancient animosity, furthering the Kosovo/Ossetia parallels.
There are a few different ways to look at this situation:
From a tit-for-tat perspective, the US and NATO got Kosovar independence from Serbia while Russia will get Ossetian independence from Georgia.
From a human rights perspective, the Ossetians will be able to govern themselves as a true nation-state, as they have been doing for quite some time.
From a geopolitical perspective, it proves that Russia is still a regional power, and, if you believe geopolitics is a zero-sum game, diminishes US power.
August 12, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
We need to go back to the WWII standard. No military involvement untill we are attacked.
August 12, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
USA will never attack Russia. Humans will fall asleep for a long and dark night. Nuclear war is finished. Now russia can attack very effective with his natural resources, gas and oil. steroid anabolic storeeurope countries will die very slow but sure!!!
And i agree with Larry, you can't go directly in a strange military conflict if your country has nothing to do with. And this G8 is a shit!
August 12, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Post a Comment