Arming Ukraine could lead to nuclear war: Lech Walesa

[candelista]

Source: AFP

Krynica (Poland) (AFP) - European military assistance to Ukraine could lead to a nuclear conflict between Russia and NATO, according to Poland's iconic cold warrior and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Walesa.

"It could lead to a nuclear war," the anti-Communist legend told reporters when asked whether the EU should send weapons to Ukraine to help it fights off separatist rebels and Russian aggression.

"The EU is well aware that Russia has nuclear weapons. NATO has them too. Must we then destroy each other?" said the former Solidarity trade union leader famous for negotiating a bloodless end to communism in Poland in 1989.

"This is why the EU keeps on repeating: stop being silly (...) This is why it isn't getting involved too much!" he added, at an annual regional economic in Krynica, southern Poland.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/arming-ukraine-could-lead-nuclear-war-lech-walesa-183453862.html

[GeorgeGist]

1. Lech's day is way over.

[Scootaloo]

2. What a well-thought and masterfully-argued response

be honest - did someone help you with that? I won't tell

[TwilightGardener]

11. I agree, Lech's day is way over.

[ColesCountyDem]

3. Comrade Major Putin is many things, but suicidal is not one of them.

M.A.D. is still the unspoken policy of the U.S. and, by extension, N.A.T.O. . Putin wants to grab what he can grab, but not at the cost of nuclear war.

[Adrahil]

12. Yep. This has been cooly calculate by the KGB laureate.

He'll get what he can, and then let things simmer down. And then he'll start eyeing up his next move. That man has ice in his veins, and will slowly rebuild a Russian empire.... Always stopping short of actual, direct, armed confrontation with the West. He knows what we will (or can) and what won't (or can't) do.

[Blue_Tires]

4. What is Walesa's solution if not to arm Ukraine?

[Gore1FL]

6. Harsh language? n/t

[salib]

9. It's called "don't do stupid shit"

Starting a nuclear war is stupid shit.

[Adrahil]

13. This won't go nuclear. Putin isn't insane. This will stop well before then.

Until the next time.

[Gore1FL]

5. That seems a bit of a leap--or very non-specific.

The argument, "They have nukes, therefore they might use them" is fundamentally true all of the time. Suggesting that the bar is set so low that providing conventional weapons would trigger a nuclear strike in (or near) the land they are disputing seems odd.

[candelista]

7. Any time the nuclear powers get into a conflict, however small...

...there is a danger, however small, of an escalation leading to the end of all life on earth.

[amandabeech]

8. Is Europe worrying about the nuclear issue or is it worrying about economic

and energy issues?

Putin is behaving very, very aggressively. Where would Mr. Walesa draw the first line of defense if Russia were to attack a NATO member?

Really, this article does not do Mr. Walesa justice in its brevity.

[TwilightGardener]

10. Let the screaming toddler have his way, or risk nuclear war?

Um, no. The rest of the world should not tiptoe around Pooty-Poot.