The New York Times has recently published an eye-opening article by David Sanger titled “Biden’s Armageddon Moment: When Nuclear Detonation Seemed Possible in Ukraine.” The piece sheds light on extensive discussions within the Biden administration in late 2022 regarding the potential of a nuclear conflict with Russia. This alarming revelation has caught the attention of readers worldwide, raising concerns about the escalating tensions in the region.
Sanger’s report reveals that the Central Intelligence Agency presented President Biden with a shocking possibility. In a hypothetical scenario where Ukrainian forces successfully decimated Russian defense lines and aimed to retake Crimea, the likelihood of a nuclear response from Russia could rise to an alarming 50 percent or even higher. These discussions prompted urgent preparations within the Biden administration for a potential Russian nuclear detonation.
It is worth noting that David Sanger, known for his affiliation with the US military and intelligence agencies, has presented this information as a controlled release by the intelligence community rather than a conventional news article. The objective behind this release is twofold: to familiarize the public with the possibility of a nuclear war and to shift the blame onto Russia, despite the US and NATO’s escalating aggression in the conflict.
NATO’s Heightening Role
In the past two weeks, several NATO countries, including France, Canada, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and now Poland, have expressed their openness to sending troops to fight Russia in Ukraine. Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radek Sikorski, even stated that sending troops to Ukraine was not unthinkable. These statements coincided with the release of a recording wherein members of the German military discussed the prospect of launching strikes on Russian territory using German long-range weapons.
These developments have occurred amidst a series of setbacks for the Ukrainian military, escalating the possibility of its complete collapse without direct NATO intervention. According to a recent article in Foreign Affairs, without a surge in Western military aid and significant changes to Kyiv’s strategy, Ukraine’s battlefield position will continue to worsen until it reaches a tipping point, possibly by this summer. This implies that NATO has limited time to prevent the Ukrainian military from collapsing entirely.
The Backfooted NATO
Sanger’s article acknowledges that in 2022, when the Russian military faced setbacks, the US considered the possibility of Russia resorting to nuclear weapons to improve its military position. However, the tables have turned, and it is now NATO and the United States that find themselves on the backfoot, suffering substantial defeats. If the Biden administration believed that Russia would use nuclear weapons to avoid military defeat, is it not equally probable that the US and NATO would resort to the same measures?
Sanger highlights a critical point in his report, stating, “The wargaming at the Pentagon and at think tanks around Washington imagined that Mr. Putin’s use of a tactical weapon … involved a demand from Moscow that the West halt all military support for the Ukrainians: no more tanks, no more missiles, no more ammunition.” However, by planning to deploy NATO troops into Ukraine, NATO itself is pushing Russia towards this very position. With each escalation by NATO, the pressure on Russia increases, forcing them to draw an explicit “red line” and potentially resort to striking NATO territory or using nuclear weapons.
The Absence of De-escalation Efforts
Even though NATO acknowledges the genuine danger of the conflict in Ukraine escalating into a nuclear war, no measures are being taken to avoid further escalation. Instead of initiating negotiations to prevent this catastrophic outcome, NATO continues to pursue a policy that significantly increases the likelihood of a nuclear conflict with Russia.
It is of utmost urgency for the working class to intervene and halt the relentless escalation of the Ukraine war. The global strike movement by workers worldwide must unite with the anti-war movement, armed with a socialist perspective. This united movement must demand an immediate end to the war and the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Ukraine.
In conclusion, the possibility of a nuclear conflict between Russia and Ukraine casts a dark shadow over the future. The revelations in Sanger’s article highlight the urgent need for global awareness and decisive action to address the escalating tensions. It is time for an international movement to rise, demanding peace and the de-escalation of the Ukraine crisis. The responsibility lies on the shoulders of the working class and all those who yearn for a world free from the horrors of nuclear warfare.
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