I suspect there are plenty of people who worry quite a bit about the Russians dropping nukes, but don't speak of it publicly. From what I've read, the nukes pe

I suspect there are plenty of people who worry quite a bit about the Russians dropping nukes, but don't speak of it publicly. From what I've read, the nukes people think Russia would use are the small, "tactical" nukes. If Russia set off two or three of them, they won't lead to immediate nuclear winter. Fall-out and persistent radioactive contamination would depend on detonation altitude and other targeting factors. I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed, but it's possible to detonate a small nuke without ending civilization. But the problem with Russia detonating a small nuke is what happens then? How would we respond? Do we nuke something? We're not officially belligerents in the "special military operation." Would we declare war? Would we torpedo their Arctic drilling platforms? I think at least part of the lack of public discussion from various governments is that we're not really sure what we would do until we know exactly what the Russians do. I also think there is a strategic benefit to ambiguity about how we would respond. We've always said we would not be the first to use nukes in a conflict. But I don't think we (the west) have explicitly said we would consider a nuclear attack on Ukraine a nuclear attack on us. There's some benefit in being ambiguous about this as (I'm sure) someone in the national security policy hierarchy thinks there is a deterrent effect. You can't live your life continuously frightened and expect to be effective at achieving any of your foreign policy objectives. But there are certainly times when it's legitimate to be more frightened than others. I started getting more nervous after Russia started massing troops on the Ukraine border. Personally, I thought Putin was bluffing. Then his troops performed less well than any of us seemed to anticipate and I started worrying a bit less. Now he's calling up more troops and is doubling down. I think the nuclear threat comes in if Russia perceives the west has crossed the line to become a direct belligerent. We don't know if Russia would respond with a tac-nuke or the full tour nuclear armageddon. I think it boils down to... We don't know if they're going to drop nukes. Which means they could maybe not drop nukes. If we truly believe they will drop nukes, prudence dictates we take steps to prepare for nuclear war. But they'll see us prepare and assume that we're going to launch first. When Mutual Assured Destruction is no longer a deterrent, what then? So yes. Be afraid. But also be brave. Assume there is a situation that doesn't lead to nuclear war, and that we can find a path to that future. Be brave because to show fear may be to invite your fears to manifest. Or at least I'm sure this is what Kissinger would say.