Sounds like the title of a Carl Reiner sequel to “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming,” doesn’t it?

I wish it were. But unfortunately, it’s more like this:

It’s the Russians again, all right; but it’s not funny. It’s the Cold War, 21st Century version. And it’s already a hot war in Ukraine, and threatening to spread. Because Vladimir Putin won’t be satisfied with just Ukraine.

Ignoring the fact — so obvious to everyone in the world above the age of three — that it was he who invaded Ukraine . . . not once, but twice, in 2014 and 2022 . . . he very quickly turned the West’s unexpected defensive support of Ukraine on its head, characterizing it as an offensive move against Russia.

And when his usual blustering didn’t frighten the NATO members into submission, he dragged out the old nuclear threat. And at first the world basically said, “Really? Again?”

Well, now he’s taken it a step further. Russia’s existing protocol on the use of nuclear weapons, established in 2020, provides for such use in the event of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack “when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy.” [Al Jazeera, September 26, 2024.]

But now, Putin says, a revision to the doctrine is being considered that would provide for clearer, more specific conditions for the use of nuclear weapons:

“Conditions for Russia’s move to use nuclear weapons are clearly stated [in the revisions]. We will consider such a possibility when we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack assets and them crossing our state border . . . [specifically citing] strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other flying vehicles.” [Id.]

In other words, stay out of our yard, or we’ll nuke your house.

And now, with the war in Ukraine in its third year, and neighboring countries increasingly on alert, NATO has begun planning for the possible need to transport large numbers of wounded troops in the event of a war with Russia, potentially by way of hospital trains if air evacuations become unfeasible. [Sabine Siebold, Reuters, September 25, 2024.]

NATO has been working toward improving its ability to “deter and defend against any Russian assault” since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. [Id.] Those preparations are now being ramped up in light of the Kremlin’s increased level of threats.

It’s beginning to feel more and more like sixty years ago. And it doesn’t feel good.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/26/24