Since the first days of its ill-fated invasion of Ukraine, Russia has wielded nuclear threats like a drunk brandishing a bottle, swinging at shadows. Remember when they claimed they’d turn anyone who interfered into radioactive dust? Well, US-led NATO soon crossed that and other “red lines,” only for Russia to announce another.
Hence the latest, which has taken their bombast to the Arctic. But detonating a bomb there smacks more of a strategic temper tantrum than a show of military might. Of course, nothing rings of desperation quite like the Kremlin blaming Ukraine for the most recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Not to mention the unwitting projection, given Putin’s abiding fear that a Russian Claus von Stauffenberg is lying in wait to assassinate him.
Frankly, Putin’s latest bluff brings to mind the philosophical brain teaser: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Beyond that, he seems delusional enough to think that Russia is the only country with nukes. News flash, Vlad: Western countries have nukes, too.
