Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Is Putin serious..and how should we respond?
Date:	9/21/2022 10:46:59 AM

I personally think we would be foolish not to take him at his word and I hope we will not see another line in the sand response like Obama did on use of chemical weapons and then nothing.  Putin knows Biden is mentally diminished and what he says is not the official government position on anything.   It is likely that Susan Rice and Ron Klayman are the real decision makers and they likely take their direction from Obama (bet they are on the phone with him as I type).  It seems highly unlikely he would give them the go ahead.  Putin is clearly bonkers and is getting desperate as the war is not going well as evidenced by his recent draft announcement.  His troops are running away when faced with a serious threat because unlike the U.S., they have no problem leaving them behind to die or be captured.

I frankly have no idea what would be the correct response as we are in new territory here with this threat.  Any nuclear response from the U.S. will certainly provoke a direct nuclear attack on the U.S. which will quickly escalate.  We know the EU is feckless and will likely not respond in kind.  Does Ukraine have nukes or did they destroy them as agreed in 1994?  We have no mutual defense treaty although we have bilateral defense consultations with them.  I will say this, I do not believe we should consider risking the lives of millions of Americans for Ukraine by responding with nuclear weapons.......but can we just sit by and let Russia get away with this?  What a mess.  A very, very scary mess.

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	Is Putin serious..and how should we respond?
Date:	9/21/2022 3:49:38 PM

I suspect that this is a message for further action planned long ago.  I'm expecting something big very soon.  Wished however that I knew what!

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Is Putin serious..and how should we respond?
Date:	9/21/2022 4:33:59 PM

I think most people are trying to ignore this hoping it will go away or think no one in their sane mind would use nukes in an offensive military action.  The worse things look for Russia in this invasion the more likely they will orchestrate some bogus excuse for using tactical nukes out of pure desperation.  Putin stays in power at the pleasure of the military and he cannot afford to lose them and he may not be entirely sane or rational as things worsen for him and his poorly conceived and executed adventure.  Apparently men are fleeing Russia in droves to avoid being drafted.  This gets worse every day.

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	We are on different chapters
Date:	9/21/2022 4:53:39 PM

NATO and US deserves this conflict for major reasons over time.  I'll just say what I believe to be true and Putins verbiage set in motion a major international effort that will shock the world hopefully not nukes.  Ukraine has and is a cesspool of corruption for a number of countries and Russia could get no relief.  Stay tuned.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	We are on different chapters
Date:	9/21/2022 7:11:33 PM

Ukraine turned their nuclear weapons over to Russia years ago.   

Putin says it is not a bluff, but I don't think he is really serious either.  I think he is making these statements because just the other day, our boy Joe authorized more billions in assistance to Ukraine.  It will make the Europeans nervous.  If he uses nukes, our response will depend on what kind of nukes and how he uses them.  Remember that the PM of India, and Xi, have now told him that he needs to wrap this war up.  He's not going to lose face and withdraw, so he may be planning something so he can claim Eastern Ukaine and back off.  He knows if he uses nukes, he's got a target on his back.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	We are on different chapters
Date:	9/22/2022 8:10:48 AM

From what I've read Ukraine agreed to destroy their nukes, not turn them over to Russia.  But you could be correct, just not what I've read.  I hope you are right about him not being serious but given his health and his decades of kleptocracy the only way for him to keep his ill gotten goods is to remain in power.  He is getting desperate given his lack of success.  One of the oligarchs close to Putin said the world better pray that Russia wins in Ukraine as there are only two options......they win or they use nukes.  No idea if this guy is a nutter or has some insight.