MORE ON TACTICAL NUKE EXERCISES AND RUSSIAN ESCALATORY OPTIONS

by Larry Johnson [5-25-2024 published].

(This is a very  important discussion about the unhinged saber rattling by the United States & NATO for using nuclear bombs against Russia. The West is playing a very dangerous game that could destroy all life on earth. Russia is very carefully pointing out the absurdity of going nuclear, yet it seems like the West doesn't want to listen. Let's hope that calmer minds in the West finally wake up. Be sure to listen to the video discussion with MIT Professor Ted Postol, who understands the destructive potential of nuclear weapons. He also points out that the West has absolutely no defense against some of the nuclear weapons in the active Russian arsenal. — RAD)

I want to follow up on my recent article, Understanding Military Exercises, and give you a deeper understanding why Russia is doing a tactical nuke exercise and what is the Russian General Staff wanting to achieve.

The current Russian exercise did not spring out of a black hole nor was it hastily conjured up in a period of a week or two. The planning for this exercise started months ago, and it appears that Russia had it on the shelf ready to go when circumstances dictated. As a result of belligerent, hostile threats by France and the U.K. regarding deploying troops to Ukraine and beefing up Ukraine’s weapons supply with more sophisticated weapons, Russia launched a comprehensive diplomatic and military response three weeks ago. Foreign Minister Lavrov summoned the British and French Ambassadors to the Russian Foreign Ministry for a verbal dressing down. They were warned in stark terms that Russia would respond with all necessary force if such actions occur.

As Lavrov was delivering a diplomatic beatdown, President Putin announced that Russia would conduct a military exercise to test its ability to deploy and launch tactical nukes. So, what are the objectives of such an exercise besides scaring the shit out of the West?

The first objective is to test the readiness of the units and personnel who load the missiles and drive the launchers. These soldiers are not sitting around on their asses waiting for the red flare to go up. They have other duties they must perform every day. The first step in the exercise process — after the national command authority has made the decision to mobilize and deploy the tactical nuclear force — is the alert to the units. Once alerted, they have to ensure they have access to the nuclear tipped missiles, that those missiles are loaded into the launchers, that the launchers are in good operating condition and that the vehicles can be started.

The next phase of the exercise is the deployment of the various units to designated firing points. This means the launch vehicles are loaded and the crews jump on and then drive to the place where they are to set up and prepare for launch. There are several problems or tasks each unit must deal with — e.g., Do they have sufficient fuel, water and food? Do they know how to get to the location where they are supposed to deploy and ready the launchers? Do their communications with headquarters command work? Do they know the proper procedures to ready the missile or missiles for launch?

Then comes the moment of truth — either the order to launch is given or they are told to stand down and return to base. The reason the Russians are doing this is to evaluate whether or not they are ready to carry out such a mission. And therein lies the other purpose of the exercise — put the West on notice that Russia is dead-ass serious about using a tactical nuke if the West decides to enter the conflict.

How might Russia use a tactical nuke? I am going to post Danny Davis’ recent video interview with MIT Professor Ted Postol below. Ted discusses the difference between the tactical and the strategic warheads. One possible option (but an option of last resort for the Russians), use a one kiloton warhead on a Ukrainian airfield or base, such as Yavoriv, in Western Ukraine near the border with Poland. Yavoriv is a defacto NATO base and has been used for storing weapons and training mercenary forces.

(I would like to clarify some information that MIT Professor Postol shared in the following interview about the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan to end the war. I have a degree in physics. On 3/30/2000 I attended a one hour talk by Paul Tibbets in Albuquerque and was so impressed with his integrity that I met with him the next day at the Atomic Museum (now known as: National Museum of Nuclear Science & History) and purchased an autographed copy of his "Return of the Enola Gay" book & have read all of it. On p318 Tibbets points out that the Japanese military still wanted to continue the war after two atomic bombs were dropped, yet the emperor broke the deadlock and voted for surrender. On 8/6/1945 Hiroshima was bombed. Our military flooded Japan with leaflets & other methods asking them to surrender else a 2nd bomb like Hiroshima would be used. On 8/9/1945 Nagasaki was bombed. Since Japan still didn't surrender, the hostilities continued. Finally on 8/15/1945, Japan surrendered. Tibbets wrote his book because he knew that people would try to rewrite history and he wanted it to be recorded correctly. On p321 he writes: "That is why a way must be found to eliminate war as a means of settling quarrels between nations." I highly recommend that you carefully listen to the following interview with MIT Professor Ted Postol to get a better understanding about how dangerous the nuclear saber rattling of the United States & NATO really is. — RAD)