4 ms·

Playing armchair general here, but I wonder what's the playbook if Russia decides to conduct a nuclear weapon "experiment".

throwawaybutwhy 5y ago
Launching a missile to explode over the ocean to show resolve to use nukes. Next, launching a missile to explode over some Alaskan waste, if the previous step doesn't induce NATO to start the negotiations. Something like that.
- phreazkzaway 5y ago
  That would trigger an overwhelming response. Nuclear weapons create huge EMP bursts which disrupt communications. One popular type of theoretical first strike is to detonate one or two missiles in the atmosphere to cause confusion, then follow up with the main salvos while peoples' main sensors and communications are blind.
  - throwawaybutwhy 5y ago
    _High-altitude_ explosions create EMP. And nuke yield can be dialed down to Hiroshima levels.
- belter 5y ago
  In other words, a madman capable of using Nuclear weapons, will be gentle, sensitive and follow etiquette with his Nuclear actions?
  - throwawaybutwhy 5y ago
    You'd be amazed at how much etiquette there is on nuclear weapons use.
ukraineally 5y ago
>Playing armchair general here, but I wonder what's the playbook if Russia decides to conduct a nuclear weapon "experiment". Any launch regardless of trajectory will be considered act of war against the world. There will be no warning shots here.
- rdtsc 5y ago
  > Any launch regardless of trajectory It's doubtful that Americans would choose to turn their cities to glass because Putin launched a single rocket in a non-US trajectory. I just don't see that happening.
- 323 5y ago
  That's not true. There are more options available to US than just "fire all the missiles".
  - ukraineally 5y ago
    >There are more options available to US than just "fire all the missiles". I mean any launch by Russia will be declaration of war on everyone. I don't know the effectiveness of stopping these nukes with missile defense. I suspect the USA has multiple plans that they expect to be effective.
    - hungryforcodes 5y ago
      "I mean any launch by Russia will be declaration of war on everyone.' Depends on the target. If its the Ukraine -- maybe not.
      - ukraineally 5y ago
        Like, if they launch on Ukraine. The nuke will go off on its target. Do you feel like the rest of the world who is anxiously watching what is happening will sit back and do nothing?
        5y ago
hogrider 5y ago
Doing nothing except further sanctions lol
dekhn 5y ago
Same here, armchair general, but I have to wonder what would happen if we parked a carrier strike group off Vladivostok. Russia is enormous and can't defend all its cities.
- noduerme 5y ago
  Sure, that'll calm things down. Why don't we just recognize it the Republic of West Alaska while we're at it.

throwawaybutwhy 5y ago

Launching a missile to explode over the ocean to show resolve to use nukes. Next, launching a missile to explode over some Alaskan waste, if the previous step doesn't induce NATO to start the negotiations. Something like that.

phreazkzaway 5y ago
That would trigger an overwhelming response. Nuclear weapons create huge EMP bursts which disrupt communications. One popular type of theoretical first strike is to detonate one or two missiles in the atmosphere to cause confusion, then follow up with the main salvos while peoples' main sensors and communications are blind.
- throwawaybutwhy 5y ago
  _High-altitude_ explosions create EMP. And nuke yield can be dialed down to Hiroshima levels.
belter 5y ago
In other words, a madman capable of using Nuclear weapons, will be gentle, sensitive and follow etiquette with his Nuclear actions?
- throwawaybutwhy 5y ago
  You'd be amazed at how much etiquette there is on nuclear weapons use.

ukraineally 5y ago

>Playing armchair general here, but I wonder what's the playbook if Russia decides to conduct a nuclear weapon "experiment". Any launch regardless of trajectory will be considered act of war against the world. There will be no warning shots here.

rdtsc 5y ago
> Any launch regardless of trajectory It's doubtful that Americans would choose to turn their cities to glass because Putin launched a single rocket in a non-US trajectory. I just don't see that happening.
323 5y ago
That's not true. There are more options available to US than just "fire all the missiles".
- ukraineally 5y ago
  >There are more options available to US than just "fire all the missiles". I mean any launch by Russia will be declaration of war on everyone. I don't know the effectiveness of stopping these nukes with missile defense. I suspect the USA has multiple plans that they expect to be effective.
  - hungryforcodes 5y ago
    "I mean any launch by Russia will be declaration of war on everyone.' Depends on the target. If its the Ukraine -- maybe not.
    - ukraineally 5y ago
      Like, if they launch on Ukraine. The nuke will go off on its target. Do you feel like the rest of the world who is anxiously watching what is happening will sit back and do nothing?
      - 5y ago

hogrider 5y ago

Doing nothing except further sanctions lol

dekhn 5y ago

Same here, armchair general, but I have to wonder what would happen if we parked a carrier strike group off Vladivostok. Russia is enormous and can't defend all its cities.

noduerme 5y ago
Sure, that'll calm things down. Why don't we just recognize it the Republic of West Alaska while we're at it.