Originally posted by ZenOps
Putin is talking nuclear. Generals are talking pre-emptive nuclear.
There is only one target that is "acceptable" as a pre-emptive nuke target IMO. One of the the ten aircraft carriers the US has.
In that scenario, however seemingly unlikely, if Putin tries to nuke a carrier and fails - Putin is in a world of hurt. If Putin succeeds in destroying one (or maybe even two) in the local area, he will have effectively won the most important first strike.
They already deployed tactical nukes to counter the NATO missile shield.
MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russia confirmed Monday that it has deployed tactical ballistic missiles near its borders with NATO but said the move did not violate international agreements.
Bild newspaper in Germany reported over the weekend that Russia had “quietly” moved 10 Iskander-M (SS-26 Stone) missile systems into its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad and along its border with the Baltic States and NATO members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The deployment marks the realization of threats from Moscow to respond with a firm gesture to NATO plans to place elements of the so-called European missile shield close to Russian borders.
TRUTH: it's the new hate speech.
In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - Orwell