Russian massing on the Ukrainian border

Did I say this?

And yet, can you understand what the alternative could be? Putin is using this, he is playing with us like a dangerous psychopath.

Who is delusional here? Are you telling me that you are not concerned about escalation?

Kali2

And why oh why do you think that is?

Do you understand the concept of MAD, and now the new more recent concept of 'limited viable nuclear exchange'?

If things escalate, what would happen would be nothing like any war we have ever known.

As said before, I have been a member of CND since the beginning- and like most members, have always known that MAD would only protect us for so long. And that the concept of 'viable limited nuclear exchange' has now put an end to MAD as originally thought.

Anyone who understands this would not wish to get involved headlong in a war where there would be no winners, let alone protect the Ukraine.

So the West should just put its feet up and let Mr. Putin invade Ukraine?

If you think he would stop there, I am afraid you are delusional.

And why oh why do you think that is?

Do you understand the concept of MAD, and now the new more recent concept of 'limited viable nuclear exchange'?

If things escalate, what would happen would be nothing like any war we have ever known.

As said before, I have been a member of CND since the beginning- and like most members, have always known that MAD would only protect us for so long. And that the concept of 'viable limited nuclear exchange' has now put an end to MAD as originally thought.

Anyone who understands this would not wish to get involved headlong in a war where there would be no winners, let alone protect the Ukraine.

Biden has done nothing but cluelessly appease Putin. The appeasement coupled with the uncoordinated and shocking abandonment of Afghanistan and the U.S. allies on the ground there is what has brought us here.

U.S. media warned Trump would be a war monger so Trump tried to prove the opposite by commencing the end of the Afghanistan involvement. Biden rolled this forward in a shockingly-clumsy fashion. Highly incompetent, and this sent a signal to our adversaries.

The reversal of the Trump sanctions on the Nord Stream contractors coupled with the foolish in-person meetings with Putin allowed Putin to truly realize how just how mentally and philosophically crippled Western Leadership had become. Putin already knew European leaders wouldn’t stand up.

The problem is the weather is not cooperating and Putin is beginning to realize something has changed in the Ukrainian people. A sense of unity has developed - patriotism even - and if Putin doesn’t achieve total control immediately, the mud is going to be the least of his worries.

What is unfolding will debunk once and for all the myth that the EU has been instrumental in securing peace. The main players like Germany and France are showing no leadership and precious little unity.

Borrowed from a friend elsewhere

''They don´t need to have the bombs in the UK, and they don´t need the B52 to deliver them. The Generic "dial a yield" B61´s fit on the hard points of the Tornado and the Eurofighter just fine.
Thing is MAD no longer applies when both or all sides consider a limited exchange viable and NATO has no policy of "no first use" also the B61 is not the earth ending megaton nuke, that alone makes it´s use likely when the conflict starts to go badly. ,,

U.K. & USA citizens have been advised to leave Ukrainian, according to the defence minister James Heapey.

He then went on to say that the U.K. will not send in military aircraft to evacuate them as this could exacerbate the situation.

I like Mr.Heapey he comes across as very knowledgeable and on top of his brief

Kali2

GG13- if this war kicks in, there will be NO winners- we will all fail. You don't get this, do you?

Kali2 Oh I certainly get this probably more so than some,
having an AC who is a serving Officer in the Armed Forces.

But do tell us about the flights we should worry about, as you are in the know.

GG13- if this war kicks in, there will be NO winners- we will all fail. You don't get this, do you?

Kali2 have you heard of the phrase.

fail to prepare, prepare to fail

Aircraft with nuclear capabilities fly in and out of bases around the world every day.

It’s not the flights that you can track that you need to worry about…

It is hugely worrying that we have such unstable bordering on psychopaths in charge, and that the UK is becoming hugely involved.

Thursday 10th February 2022
4 nuclear capable B52s arrived at USAF Fairford - see what else departed and arrived today - ominous signs people......
UPDATED 15:20
Departures
Departed 06:58 80-10?? U2S BLACK01 U.S. Air Force
Departed 10:36 85-0001 C5M RCH436 U.S. Air Force
Departed 10:43 68-10329 U2S DRAGON21 U.S. Air Force
Arrivals
Arrived 06:51 85-0001 C5M RCH436 U.S. Air Force
Arrived 11:30 61-0039 B52H HATE14 U.S. Air Force
Arrived 14:05 60-0044 B52H HATE13 U.S. Air Force
Arrived 14:56 61-0018 B52H HATE12 U.S. Air Force
Arrived 15:15 61-0003 B52H HATE11 U.S. Air Force
VISITORS
60-0044 B52H 'Excalibur'
61-0003 B52H 'Old Ironsides III'
61-0018 B52H 'Night Train'
61-0039 B52H 'The Warrior'
80-1066 U2S 9thRW
80-1069 U2S 9thRW
80-1080 U2S 9thRW

And that is just at one of the many airbases.

Maybe boldness would work if the U.K. had a leader that was respected worldwide but I can’t see that being the case when we have a leader that is regarded as a joke by other countries.

Good post Urms. DH and I have huge respect for Richard Kemp.

“Is it any surprise that observers in Washington have had to re-evaluate their post-Brexit assumptions of British foreign policy? They see in London a refreshingly like-minded assessment of what is happening, and what is needed to deal with Putin.

This situation requires not timidity but boldness. That is what gains respect in Washington and unease in Moscow. It is not just about deterring Putin from invading Ukraine, but showing him and other potentially belligerent world leaders that the West will not just roll over at the first sight of aggression. Unfortunately, too many of our allies do not understand this simple fact”

Richard Kemp is a former infantry commander and chairman of the Cobra Intelligence Group

Russia playing “ war games “ in the lrish sea
Right about where data cables are that connect us with America…….

the UK currently has only 1 out of 6 destroyers active and 6 out of 12 frigates. That means only 1 of 2 aircraft carriers can be used as there is not enough escort vessels to protect them. A sad state of affairs, and Putin and the world know this, of course.

It was considered at the time, by MI5 and Mrs May, to be a huge risk to the UK. It is so much more so now!

Kali2

www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/revealed-boris-russian-oligarch-and-page-3-model/

Johnson has done so many inappropriate things it’s easy to forget half of them. This being a prime example.

www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/revealed-boris-russian-oligarch-and-page-3-model/

MayBee70 ??

That might work!!

With a bit of luck Johnson will just quote inappropriate poetry to them. For some reason I keep thinking of Vogon poetry in Hitchikers guide….

And THIS is why other NATO members are really concerned that Johnson and Truss have taken upon themselves to 'deal with Russia'.

THEY HAVE NO MANDATE FROM NATO, AND NATO DOES NOT WANT THEM TO INFLAME THE SITUATION.

I am not shouting, just insisting.

So, is Johnson planning to use his renowned diplomatic skills to provoke Putin to attack Ukraine?

That would certainly take the spotlight off his party problems.

If you believe the media, Partygate is more high profile than the potential punch in Eastern Europe ?

If that kicks off, who had cake at a party will be the least of their worries ?