Might Putin consider a nuke attack against the U.S.?

[left-of-center2012]

With President Trump preoccupied with tweeting against the press, Hollywood, illegal voters, etc, etc, and not interested in security briefings
might Putin think this would be a good time to launch a nuclear attack against the United States?

[karynnj]

1. Why - he has a President who will likely follow him as asked .. until he decides he doesn't like him

Then is when we need to worry.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Why? We are much more useful as a Trump-managed subsidiary.

[NewJeffCT]

7. as the Putin actor said on SNL

they paid a lot of money to buy America, they want to take care of it.

[braddy]

3. It doesn't work that way, it isn't as though our nuclear response to nuclear attack is suddenly

packed away in the basement at the lake house now, our response would be instant and overwhelming.

[NightWatcher]

4. And break his brand new toy?

[PJMcK]

5. No

Why waste ammunition when the First Puppet is doing Mr. Putin's bidding? Besides, what would Russia gain by starting nuclear war?

[Takket]

6. Putin is in complete control of the US government. no reason to mess with that.

[anarch]

8. I'm not sure how that would benefit him...how about, instead...

setting up some Russian military bases in the U.S.? I mean, if we're gonna be all friendly with Russia under the new regime, they and their voters would probably be just fine with leasing some land to good old Vlad, or maybe just letting them use some of our existing installations, right?

Why not? The Russian Army could probably help the new junta keep the urban populace in line as they rebuild our inner cities, which are apparently all currently on fire, with blood running in the streets and piles of corpses everywhere (according to the glorious leader's speechifying, anyway)

[politicat]

18. ... no, Putin can't do that, not without causing severe damage first.

Maybe the officer corps, but he can't send rank and file conscripts. The Russian Army still sometimes doesn't get paid. When they do get paid, it's paltry. They still have a dearth of material goods for the lower class, where most of the conscripts come from. Most Russians speak enough English to get by in the US, so putting troops here is inviting them to desert. That's happened before. (Look at the history of the Jamestown colony -- a whole big whack of the labor force just deserted to join the local Natives.)

Basic human behavior -- people seek better conditions. The US would have to be reduced to Russian levels of disorder to keep them loyal, which defeats Putin's purpose, and we're big, with a lot of momentum and material wealth. Putin's an ass, but he's not stupid.

[etherealtruth]

9. why? He has tRump to destroy the US

[FarCenter]

10. Any nuclear attack big enough to be effective would cause nuclear winter turning Russia into Siberia

Between Russia and the US, Mutual Assured Destruction still works.

[Worktodo]

20. Nukes are militarily useless

They are suicide weapons. Post 1945 the bombs became much more powerful.

[Squinch]

11. No, but he might bro-bait Trump into attacking China, which would lead to a retaliation.

[denbot]

12. This!

I believe it would be more likely Trump will be manipulated to nuke N Korea, which China will see as an attack by proxy, and respond in a like manner.

Putin would get a two-fer, under this scenario.

[Squinch]

13. Yup. Putin wants that South China Sea, and to control all the oil. Trump wants to give it to him.

[roamer65]

14. The Chinese have moved ICBM's to the Russian border.

They know something's up and they are not liking it one bit.

[former9thward]

15. No.

[doc03]

16. Putin isn't a dumbass like that fool we have, I don't think so. nt

[trof]

17. no

[Generator]

19. As if we are getting off that easy

Of course I'll just sit here in the PNW and hope for the big one. Maybe dying will be easier than waiting for the horror every day.