Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

America WILL retaliate with 'a devastating strike' against Russia's Black Sea Fleet or bases in Crimea if Putin follows through on threat to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, US Army's former European commander warns
The Daily Mail ^ | 08:29 EDT, 21 September 2022 | TOM COTTERILL FOR MAILONLINE and CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE

Posted on 09/21/2022 7:22:41 AM PDT by BradtotheBone

America will retaliate with 'a devastating strike' against Russia's military if Vladimir Putin uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the United States Army's former European commander has warned.

Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges today said any response by America 'may not be nuclear' but warned that if Putin were to use nukes in Ukraine that the US could look to 'destroy the Black Sea Fleet or destroy Russian bases in Crimea'.

His comments come after the Russian premier sent shockwaves around the world, as he announced the 'partial mobilization' of his reserve military forces to continue his murderous invasion of Ukraine.

And in a chilling warning directed squarely at Western and Nato leaders, desperate despot Putin insisted he would use 'all means' necessary to defend swathes of territory seized or set to be annexed by Kremlin forces before threatening to use nuclear weapons.

'If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country, and in protecting our people we will certainly use all means to us - and I'm not bluffing,' he then added during his televised address to the Russian people on Wednesday morning.

Gen Hodges, who commanded the US Army in Europe between 2014 and 2018, stressed the 'possibility' of Putin ordering a nuclear strike on Ukraine was 'very unlikely'.

But he said the use of any strategic weapons of mass destruction would be met with a swift and severe reaction from President Joe Biden.

'He [Putin] knows the US will have to respond if Russia uses a nuclear weapon,' Gen Hodges told MailOnline.

'The US response may not be nuclear...but could very well be a devastating strike that could, for example, destroy the Black Sea Fleet or destroy Russian bases in Crimea.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 0bidenfundsukraine; 0bidenfundszel; 0bidenidiotsangry; 0bidenisputinsally; 0bideniszelsally; 0bidenwilldonothing; 0iqbidenkeywordbot; 0iqbidentroll; 0iqbidentrolls; 0iqputintroll; 0iqputintrolls; 0iqrussiantroll; 0iqrussiantrolls; 0iqsorostrolls; 0iqukeglobohomos; 0iqukenazisinthread; 0iquketroll; 0iquketrolls; 0iqukrainians; 0iqzelenskytrolls; 1dailymailtaking; 2overbreakingnews; benhodges; bidenistasonfr; bidenlovertrollsonfr; bidenworshippers; blackseafleet; braking; chechens; chechnya; chrispleasance; concerntroll; concerntrolls; crimea; deadrussianhomos; deadrussians; deadukehomos; deadukrainians; fakenews; hateamericafirst; hateneoconsfirst; highheelszelensky; nato; natoaggression; obamalovertrollsonfr; obamaworshippers; pedos4ukraine; pedosforputin; putinlovertrollsonfr; putinsbuttboys; putinworshippers; russia; russianaggression; russianhomos; russiansuicide; scottritter; soroslovertrollsonfr; tomcotterill; ukraine; ukraineworshippers; ukrainianhomosonfr; vladtheimploder; zelenskythedragqueen; zothomoukesonfr; zottherussiantrolls
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 221-222 next last
To: DesertRhino

It’s worse than that. Nowhere is it over 14 meters deep. Pretty remarkable, actually...


161 posted on 09/21/2022 12:38:33 PM PDT by Paul R. (You know your pullets are dumb if they don't recognize a half Whopper as food!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 160 | View Replies]

To: BradtotheBone

I wonder what assets the Russians actually have in the Black Sea are, now.


162 posted on 09/21/2022 12:43:18 PM PDT by Paul R. (You know your pullets are dumb if they don't recognize a half Whopper as food!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Justa

Yes, The NATO forces will do this once they Join the fight. It will be a Russian Pearl Harbor, Then take out the Baltic Fleet and the Russian Naval Base in Syria. You can’t leave Russia with any ships that might carry nukes—because major cities in Europe would be targets. The USN will be tasked with taking out all the subs in the Atlantic—should be simple—They have noisy subs—easy to find and sink. In 24 hours Russia will have no fleet. It will not take a nuke to get that response. The West is spoiling for a fight so any little thing can spark it off.


163 posted on 09/21/2022 12:50:09 PM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade ( Ride to the sound of the Guns!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: ansel12
You support Russia introducing nuclear war as the new normal for invading countries at peace, as a routine weapon for dictators attacking their neighbors?

I am not supporting anything. My point is this: IF anyone was EVER going to nuke someone it would be Putin. Think of how many Russian lives he would save if he nuked Kiev? Ukraine would capitulate the next day. Same if the USA had dropped a "big one" on Hanoi in 1968. Both cases the war would be over instantly. But neither case was a nuked dropped. Why? Because nukes are a bluff weapone and there is not one scenario where there is any advantages to striking first.

164 posted on 09/21/2022 12:56:37 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: BradtotheBone
The dude can't help himself. He's suffering withdrawal symptoms from his arse being kissed dozens of times a day when he was an active general. Now, he's known to everybody as "Ben", except when he's on TV.

I think retiring generals and flag officers should receive pre-retirement counseling on the challenges they'll face as civilians, doubly so for their spouses.

It's funny, though, the dozen or so generals I knew on active duty were first-class men, and never put on airs.

165 posted on 09/21/2022 1:04:41 PM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: central_va

Both of those suppositions are nonsensical, that NATO and the world would ignore Russia incorporating nuclear weapons in its invasion of a neighbor, and that Red China and Russia would have ignored America nuking Hanoi.

You are promoting the normalizing of using nukes in a common dictator invading a neighbor, war situation.

NATO exists to save Europe and prevent such catastrophic WWIII beginnings by Russia.

What is it about Russia, or Putin, that suddenly made some people think that using nuclear weapons in regular warfare is the new normal?


166 posted on 09/21/2022 1:16:25 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 164 | View Replies]

To: BradtotheBone
You can't "retaliate" unless you are the one being attacked. Once again the elites of the Capitol District show this is their war, even more than anyone's in Ukraine.

But it wouldn't be "America" retaliating. It would be the slavers who have anointed themselves the overlords of America. The headline should say "Capitol District" rather than America.

167 posted on 09/21/2022 1:20:50 PM PDT by EnderWiggin1970
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DesertRhino

You say you hope not, but seem to be accepting of Russia using nuclear weapons in its foreign wars, as just another tool in conquering neighboring countries.

That means it is OK for Red China to tell us the same, is that the new rule for America, and Western civilization, we submit to all nuclear-backed orders from foreign powers?


168 posted on 09/21/2022 1:22:35 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

I wholeheartedly approve of sending Vindman to the front, but that is a separate issue.


169 posted on 09/21/2022 1:53:41 PM PDT by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: BradtotheBone
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, THE OCCUPIER OF THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BREAKS THE RECORD FOR MOST DESTRUCTIVE PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY IN ONLY ONE YEAR, EIGHT MONTHS, AND 10 DAYS

1. US BORDER - GONE

2. US ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - GONE

3. US ECONOMY - GONE

4. HUMANS - EXTINCT BECAUSE OF NUCLEAR WAR


170 posted on 09/21/2022 3:36:00 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free, the USA will never have equal justice under the law)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bubba_Leroy

What gets me is the left HAS to know by now that getting rid of Trump and replacing him with Biden has got to be one the worst acts ever done by the country, yet they STILL want to destroy Trump!!!


171 posted on 09/21/2022 3:37:13 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free, the USA will never have equal justice under the law)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: BradtotheBone
"America WILL retaliate with 'a devastating strike' against Russia's Black Sea Fleet or bases in Crimea..."

It would be more than that. There's always more than what a U.S. commander or former commander says for a "what if"--much more.

172 posted on 09/21/2022 4:05:16 PM PDT by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

Who are the fools who made one bad decision after another to get us to this place? The insufferably stupid elites, the BiteMe regime, the deep state, the military industrial complex and the neocons who would declare war on a flock of new born lambs.

So let me get this straight we are going to blow the world up because we’re diplomatically bumbling buffoons and step in it time and again so no to prove we’re not incompetent idiots and for real we fight WWIII to prove we will use nukes.


173 posted on 09/21/2022 4:33:04 PM PDT by sarge83
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: sarge83

So you do want us to surrender to nuclear blackmail to a country that threatens to use it if their invasions are hindered, which means the Western nations are forever under the control of Red China and Russia, and in time, to all the other countries that build up a nuke arsenal.

A simple yes would have been a quicker answer.


174 posted on 09/21/2022 4:40:39 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 173 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

No, I am not advocating nuclear weapons. What I am trying to do is educate people to understand that they are bluff weapons and political weapons THAT HAVE NO REAL WORLD USE -EVER.


175 posted on 09/21/2022 4:47:10 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 166 | View Replies]

To: central_va

That is also NATO’s role in this.


176 posted on 09/21/2022 4:59:20 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 175 | View Replies]

To: BradtotheBone

Putin has threatened with weasel words to nuke us several times. He and his fellow terrorists have always been bluffing in their attempts at nuclear blackmail.


177 posted on 09/21/2022 6:30:36 PM PDT by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarge83
"Who are the fools who made one bad decision after another to get us to this place?"

The Russians and their collaborators.

178 posted on 09/21/2022 6:34:25 PM PDT by familyop ("For they that sleep with dogs, shall rise with fleas" (John Webster, "The White Devil" 1612).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 173 | View Replies]

To: familyop

Until they are not.


179 posted on 09/21/2022 7:27:00 PM PDT by Boardwalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 177 | View Replies]

To: flamberge

Good post!


180 posted on 09/21/2022 9:29:53 PM PDT by Bobalu (This Republic is designed for a wholly moral and religious people. It will not work with any other.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 221-222 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson