Posted on 12/11/2013 11:18:32 AM PST by Mount Athos
A Russian Cabinet member says Moscow has reserved the right to use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional strike.
Wednesday's comments by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin carried by Russian news agencies reflected Moscow's concern with prospective U.S. weapons.
Weapons that have been developed in the U.S. under the so-called "prompt global strike" program would be capable of striking targets anywhere in the world in as little as an hour with deadly precision. Russia, which has lagged far behind in developing such weapons, has described them as destabilizing.
Without naming the U.S., Rogozin said that those who "experiment with non-nuclear strategic weapons" should remember that "if we come under attack, we will undoubtedly use nuclear weapons in certain situations."
He described nuclear weapons as a "great equalizer."
Russia really doesn’t have to worry about catching up in an arms race, they have freaking NUKES! What more of a deterrent is really needed?
Who in the world is going to attack Russia anyways?
So will Iran.
The real question is the reliability of their delivery systems. Even in its heyday Russian ICBMs had degraded ability to launch.
One of their friends like North Korea or Iran, most likely.
Oh noes, now we can’t openly attack Russia.
Okay, let’s say “we” did attack Russia and they responded with a nuke. If they confined their response to just flattening Mordor on the Potomac, is it really a bad thing if I don’t care?
Now and then arabs need to be reminded who is their boss, just like Obama with putin. Iran is key in that motivation.
Now and then arabs need to be reminded who is their boss, just like Obama with putin. Iran is key in that motivation.
Now and then arabs need to be reminded who is their boss, just like Obama with putin. Iran is key in that motivation.
Probably nobody, but I would say this is a shot across China’s bow. With decreasing population, they know they won’t be able to defend their territory with conventional forces, and want head off any thoughts of a Siberian land grab.
Here’s an interesting comment from another thread:
“Well that really doesn’t have anything to do with their missile systems. Russian missiles are acknowledged to be pretty good even by the west.”
I agree, standing on “their stuff doesn’t work” by smug Americans is wearing pretty thin. A long time ago, we were paring down our weapons systems for a SALT treaty, where the US/Russia could destroy (in front of the other side’s officials) or test launch the vehicles to be destroyed. We destroyed/demilitarized ours; the Russians launched theirs. Every one of those worked properly - and the assumption had been in gaming that 40% of them wouldn’t hit their target.
I really wonder if we have a credible shipboard defense against a really fast cruise missile, especially if those missiles are relatively cheap and plentiful (capable of a saturation attack).
10 posted on December 4, 2013 at 10:52:16 PM PST by The Antiyuppie (”When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies | Report Abuse]
There are public reports where experts estimated the successful launch at about 80% on the first attempt.
Russians aren’t supermen. They do drink a lot though.
“Okay, let’s say “we” did attack Russia and they responded with a nuke. If they confined their response to just flattening Mordor on the Potomac, is it really a bad thing if I don’t care?”
Only if we can hold them to it.
Wasnt that the US position during the cold war?
The tech capability of the Roosians is all over the board—I’ve seen it personally. But where it counts, I would never underestimate their ability to deliver a nuke.
“The real question is the reliability of their delivery systems.”
Who wants to bluff em and find out for sure though?
I think they’d get the job done eventually. They are really good at killing people. Not so good at keeping complex systems running though.
“Russia really doesn’t have to worry about catching up in an arms race, they have freaking NUKES! What more of a deterrent is really needed?”
Adequate for deterring the US or China, for sure. But what about Chechnya or some other Muslim paradise? These are the places where a conventional military capability comes in handy because they are certainly not going to leave Mother Russia (or anybody else) live in Peace.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.