Scott Ritter: On a Highway to Hell (On Nuclear Posture)

[u/Anton_Pannekoek]

https://consortiumnews.com/2024/09/01/scott-ritter-on-a-highway-to-hell/

[u/Anton_Pannekoek]

MAD is no guarantee. So far it has held, but a mistake, or a reaction to an event, all kinds of scenarios could lead to their use.

Right now the war in Ukraine, for instance has definitely increased the risk of use of nuclear weapons.

Every nuclear-capable state is spending more on nuclear weapons, modernising them, their delivery system. The only solution is for everybody to agree to arms-control talks. That's the whole point of the article.

[u/greentrillion → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

And why doesn't he call for Russia and China do to do that when they are increasing their arsenal causing US to respond? Seems like the is easy, Russia and China need to stop their war war mongering and nuclear weapons buildup.

[u/Anton_Pannekoek → u/greentrillion]

He calls for arms controls to be implemented, which is precisely that, controls on the amount and type of nuclear weapons which a country can make, via mutual treaties. It's the way that the threat was reduced in the 1980's, successfully.

By the way the US is just as guilty as Russia and China, of war-mongering, if not more so. It has a terrible record, especially recently walking away from really important treaties like the ABM treaty, the new START treaty, the INF treaty, their weaponisation of space ...

Now they are moving ahead with placing nuclear-capable tomahawk missiles in Germany by 2026. In many ways there are disturbing escalations.

[u/greentrillion → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

It takes multiple partires to make a treaty, US has no need for nukes other than defense, Russia and China are the ones escalating so why isn't he calling on Russia and China to make the offer? He literally talks to Russian often on Russian state TV he can do that.

[u/Anton_Pannekoek → u/greentrillion]

Every state claims defense. The US has a more aggressive nuclear posture than Russia or China.

I edited my previous post to show some of the US escalations. There are many more listed in the Scott Ritter article. I don't see how you can claim Russia and China are the only ones escalating.

[u/greentrillion → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

And yet, he only mentions Biden for not making a new treaty with Russia. After Biden came to office, Russia massively escalated their aggression. All sides are not equally guilty here. Russia and China could easily reach out to the U.S. to make an arms treaty, except they are doing the opposite, building up arms, invading, and threatening invasion. Putin constantly threatens to use nukes. Sorry, but this is a completely one-sided situation, and the U.S. is on the back foot while Russia and China are the aggressors. Scott Ritter does nothing to speak out against Russian and Chinese aggression.

[u/Anton_Pannekoek → u/greentrillion]

Russia did reach out to make an arms treaty, the official response from the USA was no.

It was the US which refused to discuss placement of missiles in Kiev or any threats to Russia.

You haven't found a single factual error in the article.

[u/greentrillion → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

Sorry but Russia can't make an arms deal while they are invading Ukraine, that's just silly. They need to withdraw first. Then talks can happen.

[u/tutamean → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

The US has a more aggressive nuclear posture than Russia or China.

Are USA propagandists and former presidents calling for nuking Europe and USA every couple of days? Or is it the Russians doing so?

[u/Anton_Pannekoek → u/tutamean]

Go look what Russians say, please find some quotes from Putin and we can discuss the alleged threats. You will find they are all in response to threats from Russia. People must remember that there is such a concept as nuclear deterrence.

[u/tutamean → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

I look, at their national TV there are daily calls for nuclear attacks on Europe. There are no actual threats for Russia from NATO. If there were why is Russia moving away equipment from NATO borders.

[u/Anton_Pannekoek → u/tutamean]

Russia keeps a lot of troops and equipment by NATO borders. They consider NATO a threat, and this war is largely a war between Russia and NATO now. NATO provide the intelligence, surveillance, weapons, ammunition and many mercenaries are from NATO countries too.

But even if we accept what you are saying, that Russia is making nuclear threats, well then we need to find a way to deal with this, by negotiation and arms controls, because this threatens the entire globe.

[u/greentrillion → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

Many countries not just NATO countries are helping Ukraine win, sorry but Russia attacked Ukraine and made it, so everyone had to come to Ukraine's defense. Russia is the one who is the aggressor. Russia will be safe in their borders as long as they stop invading countries and stealing land.

[u/tutamean → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

Then why is Russia removing troops and equipment from the Finnish border?

If NATO is such a problem?

https://dailywrap.uk/russian-military-bases-near-finland-border-nearly-emptied-amid-ukraine-conflict,7040270201697921a

[u/Pyll → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

Please look at what Americans say. Please find some quotes from Biden about him nuking the planet, then we can discuss the alleged threats.

[u/Anton_Pannekoek → u/Pyll]

I'd rather go through the Putin threats. They are generally taken completely out of context and ignore when he makes reasonable statements. For instance he recently said that Russia will only employ nuclear weapons if absolutely necessary.

Every time he reminds people that Russia has nuclear capability, it's to warn that certain red lines exist.

The US did the exact same thing when Cuba wanted to host nuclear weapons, they went completely nuts in fact, almost bringing the world to nuclear war.

[u/Pyll → u/Anton_Pannekoek]

Cuba? Why are you talking about the 60's? Please talk about Biden and his threats, I mean Scott Ritter just did a piece on him, surely you can find some dirt on him.