Putin and his cronies are saber-rattling with the idea of using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. So, what if Russia does? Outside of economic sanctions and making Russia a pariah nation, what nation is going to stand up to him? The EU nations won't. They will stamp their feet and pound the table with their fists at the useless United Nations, but nothing else. My real fear is that a weak leader will overcompensate for their weakness by doing something rash. By "weak leader" I mean the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He already told Putin there will be serious consequences if Russia uses nuclear weapons. What consequences? Direct military action? The closest the United States came to nuclear war with Russia was during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. That was when Russia was the Soviet Union. Back then the presence of nuclear missiles in Cuba presented a direct threat to the United States. John F. Kennedy was not a weak president. The Soviet Union backed down. Putin is a Megalomaniac. It is possible, if not probable, that he will use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. How should the free world respond?
I think the right choice is to completely isolate Russia from the world community, as well as any other nation that does not do so. I am not talking about weak economic sanctions that accomplish little. I mean absolute complete isolation. Expel their ambassadors from as many nations as possible. Do not import or export petroleum or any other energy-related product. No commerce of any kind. A complete travel ban to and from Russia. No port-of-calls allowed by Russian vessels. Ban Russia from all international sporting events, including the Olympic games. Break off aerospace cooperation. Evict Russian cosmonauts from the ISS and use SpaceX to support American astronauts. Confiscate all Russian financial assets held in foreign banks.
The real problem comes into play if Putin takes military action against any NATO nation in response to the world community isolating Russia. Does the United States honor its NATO treaty obligation? Are we willing to have a direct military confrontation with Russia, or do we support our NATO allies but stop short of committing troops?
I think the right choice is to completely isolate Russia from the world community, as well as any other nation that does not do so. I am not talking about weak economic sanctions that accomplish little. I mean absolute complete isolation. Expel their ambassadors from as many nations as possible. Do not import or export petroleum or any other energy-related product. No commerce of any kind. A complete travel ban to and from Russia. No port-of-calls allowed by Russian vessels. Ban Russia from all international sporting events, including the Olympic games. Break off aerospace cooperation. Evict Russian cosmonauts from the ISS and use SpaceX to support American astronauts. Confiscate all Russian financial assets held in foreign banks.
The real problem comes into play if Putin takes military action against any NATO nation in response to the world community isolating Russia. Does the United States honor its NATO treaty obligation? Are we willing to have a direct military confrontation with Russia, or do we support our NATO allies but stop short of committing troops?
