Vladimir Putin has put his nuclear forces on alert. We could do likewise, going from DEFCON 3 to 2 to 1 (defense conditions of readiness prior to all-out nuclear war). To do so would only heighten tensions.
The concept of MAD — mutually assured destruction — prevented nuclear war throughout the Cold War. Frighteningly, today’s nuclear missiles are 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Also, U.S. and USSR arms control treaties have reduced the numbers from 35,000 to 3,500 to 7,000 for each side (not counting biological and chemical weapons that have been outlawed and supposedly destroyed with verification).
Another restraining factor from scientists is that a nuclear war would result in a “nuclear winter.” They believe the sun would be blocked out for years due to the trillions of dust and dirt particles in the atmosphere. All plant, animal and human life would die. Quite a lovely thought.
As you can see, neither side can win a nuclear war, but with Putin’s questionable mental state, let’s hope the Russian generals or the wealthy oligarchs topple him before it’s too late.
Tom Tarosky
West Leechburg