"We have reason to believe that China engaged Russia and said: 'Don't go there,'" outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Financial Times on Jan. 3.

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/51645406

During the Cuban missile crisis Kennedy asked about using a tactical nuke against Cuba.

Kennedy’s generals explained that the only possible options would be enormous first strike against the USSR, or nothing. Because if the US used a tactical nuke Khrushchev would be forced to respond. Then you’d have a nuclear exchange between superpowers anyway, but would also be giving the enemy time to react.

Yes, I’m aware of that. I just hope Vladimir is, too. At any rate he cannot be allowed to hold the whole world* hostage by playing chicken with unsubstantiated threats. The sooner he is stopped the better.

(* Except for China and his other buddies he’s scared of, of course. Which is somewhat ironic, considering how young Communist China used to be such a fan of the USSR, which in turn treated its poor and underdeveloped neighbour with so thinly veiled contempt. How the tables have turned…)

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