Mike Whitney – The Unz Review May 31, 2024
President Putin’s press conference on Wednesday in Uzbekistan might have been the most unusual and extraordinary event in his 24-year political career. After addressing the Constitutional issues surrounding Ukrainian President Zelensky’s decision to remain in office beyond his four-year term, Putin delivered a brief but disturbing statement on NATO’s plan to fire long-range weapons at targets inside Russia. Putin made it clear that Russia would respond to these attacks and that the countries that provided the weapons systems would be held responsible. He also gave a very detailed description of how the systems work and how they require contractors from the country-of-origin be directly involved in their operation. What is so remarkable about Putin’s comments is not the fact that they bring the world closer to a direct confrontation between nuclear-armed adversaries, but that he had to remind political leaders in the West that Russia is not going to sit back and be their punching bag. Here’s part of what Putin said:
With regard to the strikes, frankly, I am not sure what the NATO Secretary General is talking about. When he was the Prime Minister of Norway, (we had good relations) and I am positive he was not suffering from dementia back then. If he is talking about potentially attacking Russia’s territory with long-range precision weapons, he, as a person who heads a military-political organisation, even though he is a civilian like me, should be aware of the fact that long-range precision weapons cannot be used without space-based reconnaissance. This is my first point.
My second point is that the final target selection and what is known as launch mission can only be made by highly skilled specialists who rely on this reconnaissance data, technical reconnaissance data. For some attack systems, such as Storm Shadow, these launch missions can be put in automatically, without the need to use Ukrainian military. Who does it? Those who manufacture and those who allegedly supply these attack systems to Ukraine do. This can and does happen without the participation of the Ukrainian military. Launching other systems, such as ATACMS, for example, also relies on space reconnaissance data, targets are identified and automatically communicated to the relevant crews that may not even realise what exactly they are putting in. A crew, maybe even a Ukrainian crew, then puts in the corresponding launch mission. However, the mission is put together by representatives of NATO countries, not the Ukrainian military. Putin Presser in Uzbekistan, Kremlin
Let’s summarize:
- The long-range precision weapons (missiles) are provided by NATO countries
- The long-range precision weapons are manned by experts or contractors from the country of origin
- The long-range precision weapons must be linked to space reconnaissance data provide by the US or NATO
- The targets in Russia are also provided by space reconnaissance data provide by the US or NATO
The point that Putin is trying to make is that the long-range missiles are made by NATO, furnished by NATO, operated and launched by NATO contractors, whose targets are selected by NATO experts using space reconnaissance data provided by NATO. In every respect, the prospective firing of long-range precision weapons at targets in Russia, is a NATO-US operation. Thus, there should be no confusion about who is responsible. NATO is responsible which means that NATO is effectively declaring war on Russia. Putin’s lengthy comments merely underscore this critical point. Here’s more from Putin:
So, these officials from NATO countries, especially the ones based in Europe, particularly in small European countries, should be fully aware of what is at stake. They should keep in mind that theirs are small and densely populated countries, which is a factor to reckon with before they start talking about striking deep into the Russian territory. It is a serious matter and, without a doubt, we are watching this very carefully. Putin Presser in Uzbekistan, Kremlin
Naturally, the western media has focused all its attention on the paragraph above, and for good reason; Putin is stating the obvious: ‘If you attack Russia, we will retaliate.’ That is the underlying message. Here are a few of Friday’s (hysterical) headlines:
- Vladimir Putin Threatens ‘All-Out War’ if Ukraine Uses Western Weapons to Hit Russia — as Volodymyr Zelensky Asks Allies for Their Permission, MSN.com
- Why is Putin again threatening a nuclear war?, The Interpreter
- Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war, Reuters
- TYRANT’S THREAT: Vladimir Putin threatens all-out war if Ukraine uses Western weapons to hit Russia, The Sun
- (and the best of all)
Time to Call Putin’s Bluff, CNN
Is that what this is all about; testing Putin to see if he’s bluffing?
If it is, it is a uniquely risky strategy. But there is a grain of truth to what they say. After all, Putin is warning that any attack on Russia will trigger an immediate and ferocious retaliatory strike. And he is advising the leaders of ‘small, densely populated NATO countries’ to consider how a nuclear attack by Russia might impact their prospects for the future. Would they really put their entire civilization at risk to find out whether Putin is bluffing or not? Here’s Putin again:
Look at what your Western colleagues are reporting. No one is talking about shelling Belgorod (in Russia) or other adjacent territories. The only thing they are talking about is Russia opening a new front and attacking Kharkov. Not a word. Why is that? They did it with their own hands. Well, let them reap the fruits of their ingenuity. The same thing can happen in case the long-range precision weapons which you asked about is used.
More broadly, this unending escalation can lead to serious consequences. If Europe were to face those serious consequences, what will the United States do, considering our strategic arms parity? It is hard to tell. Putin Presser in Uzbekistan, Kremlin
Putin seems genuinely mystified by the West’s behavior. Do US and NATO leaders really think they can attack Russia with long-range missiles and Russia won’t respond? Do they really think their ridiculous propaganda can impact the outcome of a clash between two nuclear-armed superpowers? What are they thinking or ARE they thinking? We don’t know. We seem to have entered ‘uncharted stupidity’ where desperation and ignorance converge to create a foreign policy that is utter madness. This is from an article at Tass News Service:
NATO countries that have approved strikes with their weapons on Russian territory should be aware that their equipment and specialists will be destroyed not only in Ukraine, but also at any point from where Russian territory is attacked, the Russian Security Council’s Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on his Telegram channel, noting that the participation of NATO specialists could be seen as a casus belli.
“All their military equipment and specialists fighting against us will be destroyed both on the territory of former Ukraine and on the territory of other countries, should strikes be carried out from there against Russian territory,” Medvedev warned.
He added that Moscow proceeded from the fact that all long-range weapons supplied to Ukraine were already “directly operated by servicemen from NATO countries”, which is tantamount to participation in the war against Russia and a reason to start combat operations. NATO weapons to be hit in any country from where Russia may be attacked — Medvedev, Tass
There it is in black and white. Where Putin chose to take the diplomatic approach, Medvedev opted for the hammer-blow. ‘If you attack Russia, we will bomb you back to the Stone Age.’ Not much wiggle-room there. But perhaps clarity is what’s needed for people who do not understand the potential consequences of their actions. In any event, no one in Washington or Brussels can say they weren’t warned.
We cannot exclude the possibility that Washington actually wants to expand the war despite the fact that cities across Eastern Europe could be incinerated in the process. It could be that beltway warhawks see a broader conflict as the only way to achieve their geopolitical ambitions. Putin knows that this is a real possibility, just as he knows that there is a sizable constituency in Washington that support the use of nuclear weapons. This might explain why he is proceeding so cautiously, because he knows there are crazies within the US establishment who look forward to a clash with their old rival Russia so they can implement their pet-theories about “usable” nukes for tactical advantage. Here’s Putin:
The United States has a theory of a ‘preventive strike’…Now they are developing a system for a ‘disarming strike’. What does that mean? It means striking at control centres with modern high-tech weapons to destroy the opponent’s ability to counterattack.
Putin has devoted a considerable amount of time studying US Nuclear Doctrine, and it has him deeply concerned. After all, didn’t the Biden administration launch an unprecedented attack on “a key element of Russia’s nuclear umbrella” just last week?
Indeed, they did.
And hasn’t the US (via its Nuclear Posture Review) rebranded the offensive use of nuclear weapons as a justifiable act of defense?
It has.
And doesn’t this revision provide US warhawks with the institutional framework needed to launch a nuclear attack without fear of legal prosecution?
It does.
And haven’t these same warhawks developed their respective theories on “first-strike”, “preemption” and “disarming strike” in order to lay the groundwork for a first-strike nuclear attack on a geopolitical rival of Washington?
They have.
And doesn’t US Nuclear Doctrine state that nuclear weapons can be used “in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interests of the United States or its allies and partners.”
It does.
And does that definition include economic rivals like China?
Yes.
And is that a defense of a “first strike” nuclear weapon attack?
It is.
And does that mean that the United States no longer regards its nuclear arsenal as purely defensive but as an essential instrument for preserving the “rules-based order”?
Yes, it does.
And does Putin know that there are powerful actors in the political establishment and deep state who would like to see the taboo on nuclear weapons lifted so they can be used in more situations and with greater frequency?
He does.
And does he know that Washington regards Russia and China as the primary threats to US global hegemony and the “rules-based order”?
Yes.
And does he realize that if the US implements its first-strike policy Russia may not have the time to retaliate?
He does.
And does Putin realize that foreign policy analysts regard him as a restrained and reasonable man who may not pull the trigger or respond promptly when Russia faces a preemptive attack that will inflict the strategic defeat on Moscow the West seeks?
No, he doesn’t. He still thinks that possessing a large cache of nuclear weapons will deter US aggression. But a large cache of nuclear weapons is no deterrent when your opponent is convinced you won’t use them.
Sometimes being reasonable is not the best way to fend off an adversary. Sometimes you have to be a little crazy.
That’s a lesson Putin needs to learn. Fast.
very interesting CANCER OVER DIAGNOSIS
https://www.renegadetribune.com/the-dark-side-of-prostate-cancer-screening-an-epidemic-of-overdiagnosis-overtreatment/
Read some…
Let’s be clear. Norway is not a densely populated country. In fact, the leading densely populated country is the UK, and principally, England.
Sure, there are many targets on the Russian target list, but Nazi UK is at the top of this list.
Not only has Putin now taken the lead on public comments on the state of play, but all of this has been said, and much more behind closed doors using back channels.
So your Nazi leaders all know the deal, but there’s a catch. They are all fully paid up members of the NWO Satanic Nazi sect.
I’ve been saying it from the start. Entitled middle and upper class numpties who never heard ‘no’ as a child, and went through an education system which never taught an appreciation of the other, and that they were destined to lead. Not just their country, but the world.
There’s nationalism, little islander mentality, and its not just a hate of foreigners. They hate their own sheeple.
I’ve often said that as a ewe becomes more wealthy, more powerful, the more they behave and think like rams. Well, it’s the same in the NWO Satanic Nazi sect. The higher you rise, the more power you gain, the more Nazified you become. This doesn’t detract from the Nazi baseline, of hating anything that doesn’t remotely think or look like you. This is still there. But at the top, even I have a hard time getting my head around the top Nazi evil doers.
BS
Putin still thinks that the West is civilised. It isn’t – it’s run by Jewish psychopaths.
The Ukes are going down to conventional defeat, so they will be supplied with nukes. It will be said that they were domestically produced, but they won’t be. As usual, the THICKBrits will be the USrael’s bagman.
The Russians need to make a demonstration. A small nuclear strike somewhere that can’t be hidden by the Western media. Something to bring it home to the man in the street that he and his family are going to die if Sunak, Macron and all the rest aren’t stopped.
It’s not just that Putin is trying to counter an adversary, it’s that he’s trying to counter an adversary who’s bat-shit crazy and on the ropes in every way from economic collapse to war crimes trials. I just hope when he does strike because he’s being forced to, the strike will be so disarming it will take their breaths away.
Anything less invites retribution so make retribution impossible.
the film of US soldiers putting on make up and lipstick before a battle
was sickening the PTB femiised the men with TV subliminals and put so much feminine
hormones in the drinking water and food,that fish in the sea were changing sex
these nancy boys will be no match for russian men
the americans are just
” burger eating surrender monkeys “
“The United States has a theory of a ‘preventive strike’…Now they are developing a system for a ‘disarming strike’. What does that mean? It means striking at control centres with modern high-tech weapons to destroy the opponent’s ability to counterattack.”
“After all, didn’t the Biden administration launch an unprecedented attack on “a key element of Russia’s nuclear umbrella” just last week?”
——————————————————————-
Not stuff Ukraine would or should be interested in attacking.
The problem is that HE. is part of the show !!!
Vladimir Putin’s dilemma is he underestimated the western population’s level of suffering from cognitive dissonance .. just as the dangerous clowns who rule them .. maybe when they loose everything they wake up ..
Russia’s objectives have never changed; de-militarise and de-“nazify” whilst the Crowleyists have always wanted regime change and to insert a Yeltsin type buffoon who will allow the plundering of its resources. Said resources would have allowed the West to stave off its imminent financial collapse. With that and the West being turned into the world’s s*** heap why does Russia and for that matter China need to do anything other than play the long game. As long as no strategic targets are hit then every thing else is a product of war. The little faggot Napoleon’s Grande Armee are going home in body bags as we speak.
“Washington actually wants to expand the war despite the fact that cities across Eastern Europe could be incinerated in the process.” That statement spotlights the problem Russia is facing– Article 5 of the NATO pact, i.e. ‘attack on one is an attack on all.’ This clause really benefits the USA mostly. Since the EU members are closest to Russia, and densely populated, DC thinks they are the likely first-strike targets.
In a ‘final face-off’ scenario, Putin’s best ‘crazy’ strategy could be as follows. Declare to NATO that ‘one of their countries’ will be hit with a nuclear ‘demonstration’ if they don’t back down. Then strike the USA, say DC, with a nuclear missile. Would the Europeans be insane enough to retaliate, knowing they’d be utterly destroyed… unlike the USA that can absorb much more damage? Not too likely, tho I don’t say never. But it might be the only way Russia could make the point, the point that the hawks in DC don’t seem to get!
Rixon, have you set up the Captcha “prove you are human” roadblocks on the site or has the site perhaps been infiltrated to try to reduce traffic? I didn’t mind going through it once yesterday, but it’s been putting me through the ringer today on every single page over and over. I love and appreciate you, but I’m not going to go through endless picture puzzles just to get to an article.
As for this piece, it’s useless to try to rationalize with the criminally insane or rabidly unhinged, which is what the Jewnited States certainly is as well as many of the other cuntries of the West thanks to the toxic infiltration of Jewry.
Scott Ritter posted a food article on the ‘war of attrition’ in Ukraine that is a tested war method used against Napoleon and Hitler, to name two, which demonstrates that Putin is playing Chess, while the puppets in the OWO West are playing psycho silly games basic to predator-prey relationships, not realizing they are about to be replaced by those puppet master in the SG that installed them.
Scottt: https://www.rt.com/russia/598395-russia-ukraine-conflict-phases/
“TYRANT’S THREAT: Vladimir Putin threatens all-out war … ” – The Sun
You know it’s “Game ON!!!” when Britain’s MOST POPULAR newspaper – that’s (((Murdoch’s))) rag The Sun – feels the need to drag THICK Brits away from their ‘Daily Wank’ over the trollop on ”Page 3′..
to wind them up go “Die For (((King & Cuntry)))” in defense of Ukraine’s ‘sacred borders” .. even as their own borders are being over-run – with the FULL complicity of ZOGUK (((Authorities)))!! – by rape-ugees from every shit-hole on Planet Earth!
But , then again, Brits have ALWAYS been a bit “slow on the uptake” – and Yes! Virginia.. being THICK has consequences.. FATAL consequences!! – which is why that ‘small, densely populated” place is more than likely at the TOP of Putin’s list.. and therefore “not long for this world”
Deagel – who sees an EIGHTY Percent “DROP” in the UK population by 2025 – would seem to agree…
…. WOULDN’T YOU SAY??? 🤔
“Sometimes being reasonable is not the best way to fend off an adversary. Sometimes you HAVE TO BE A LITTLE CRAZY”
Aint THAT the TRUTH!!
The BEST advice I ever got – on one of my pre-Guiliani trips to NYC- was off “Sicilian Joey” from The Bronx who told me to act-up like “some crazy fcked-up muthafcker!” if I was ever “approached” on one of my sojourns through the drug-addict, pimp & prostitute, mugger infested streets of Times Square!
Worked like a charm!! 🤣
Captcha and reCaptcha are utterly useless. Both are easily circumvented by decryption software. Neither are capable of distinguishing between a hacking program and organic input.
Image identification Captcha is so ludicrously crude that even a coached and amenable Chimpanzee or Gorilla can master it. I am not a human.
There’s no issue on this side of the Atlantic with Captcha intrusions. It may be an issue specific to the search engine or browser that you’re using, Umbra. I only use Duckduckgo or the Brave browser now. Yandex is compromised, having been crippled by malware, almost certainly sourced of British intelligence.
Click on every square that is a regular quadrilateral.
Thrashbottom–some fish and amphibians always did change sex at times
Funny how the midgets in Russia’s government will “defend” Russia now but let it be ravaged by Communism for seventy years so that now the towns are ugly blocks-of-flats complexes
Putin , Biden , Zelensky , NATO , BRICS are all under JWO control , pitted against each other in order to orchestrate WW3. It was Axis vs. Allies in WW1 and 2 , now it’s NATO vs. BRICS on the dance card. Putin is just playing his role, like a character in a WWE professional wrestling match. It’s all choreographed with a predetermined outcome. U.S. and NATO are being set up to lose and imploded economically, while the power base shifts to BRICS . They will serve as the vehicle used to bring in the final stages of the JWO
A chap on here said theNWO are natzis ?
what planet is he on
Rixon fools and obvious 5th columnists like this should be blocked
@ Umbra Bellator
In consideration of your recent request, I recommend
https://forum.axishistory.com
Although it’s a forum primarily focused on WW II history and the travails of the Axis Powers, in particular, if you search for “origins of WW I,” at the site, 4310 separate threads are offered, some more useful than others, no doubt.
Axis History is abundantly rich with intelligent discussion and plentiful of lesser known historical perspectives. It’s a genuinely valuable archive.
The big question in my mind: Is Putin one of ‘THEM’?
I would love to believe he is genuine and doing his best for Russia.
But God only knows Putin’s motives.
If he’s genuine then I tend to think he will strike without prior warning at the heart of his enemies strength. Military strategic spots etc, so retaliation would be difficult.
But, what do I know about warfare?
I haven’t encountered any captcha here but jewtube and jewgle is full of it these days. Very annoying.
a bully understands only one language + custom :
A FIST IN HIS FACE !
the european warmongers will crawl away like
cucarachas . NATO is a soap bubble .
@ andy jay
I think captcha has other incentives than to see
if we are human or not . I think they look for
identity + data . maybe its mossad or else .
@ CARL JONES
and germany + BeNeLux !
@MM
he should take some american satelites down .
@ Pter Petherington
to act like crazy motherf..cker works only
on places where they dont know you , but
Putin they know + have him studied long time
+ would not believe in any crazy way of him .
but the automatized strategic military needs
no GO AHEAD from him . and the US strategig
+ taktical military system also needs no GO AHEAD
from Biden . AI adicionaly works in it we dont
can predict but expect the worst .
Putins + Medjedevs warnings are not for nothing !