Russia Says New U.S Missile Project Might provoke a Full-scale Nuclear Attack. Is The Cold-War Really Over?

Question

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/06/MNGF9LJSMM1.DTL

A Pentagon project to modify its deadliest nuclear ICBM for use as a conventional weapon against targets such as North Korea and Iran could spark an atomic war, says Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin warned that the project would increase the danger of accidental nuclear war.

Putin said-
"The media and expert circles are already discussing plans to use intercontinental ballistic missiles to carry nonnuclear warheads, The launch of such a missile could provoke a full-scale counterattack using strategic nuclear forces."

Accidental nuclear war is not so far-fetched. In 1995, Russia initially interpreted the launch of a Norwegian scientific rocket as the onset of a U.S. nuclear attack. President Boris Yeltsin activated his "nuclear briefcase" in preparation to launch a retaliatory strike before the mistake was discovered.

If the coldwar is over, why is Russia still afraid of a U.S firststrike

Answer 1

cold war never will be over.
Hope it will not get hot for the time coming.

Answer 2

Consider: You have a nuclear missile capability. Your country (Country R) has a historic paranoia about being attacked (possibly because it has happened before, e.g. Germany). Another country (Country A) does too.

Country A is something of a mystery to yours ... populated with many normal peaceful people, but with more than a few rednecks and religous fundamentalists, and with a leadership that has said it would do, and shown itself capable of doing, almost anything to "ensure security" of that country -- up to an including invading a sovereign country and behind the scenes bullying (e.g. Pakistan) and manipulation of other countries.

In this scenario, if you are a bit paranoid, and are told that Country A (remember this is happening over a span of a few minutes) has launched an ICBM and that early analysis indicates it is targetted at your country or very close to your borders, and you "know" that it likely carries one or more nuclear warheads, wouldn't you (or worse the general who actually has responsibility to be prepared to retaliate and may have access to the trigger) be very tempted to fire off at least an equal or slightly greater response before it is too late? Remember this all happened over a very short time span ... and the actual leaders of the two countries may not even be aware or monitoring the events so unavailable to explain / reassure the other.

As a final point, consider that the US has long boasted of the capability of delivering precision conventional explosives via bomber anywhere in the world, so why should I, as an anlysts in Country R, expect that an ICBM is NOT nuclear armed ... after all, if conventional munitions were required they would be delivered by a bomber, wouldn't they?

Sure it is unlikely that a nuclear response would be triggered, but given inherent paranoia, the potential for failure of automated systems and the possibility of misunderstanding of motives it is certainly possible.

Recent unilateral actions of the US -- no matter how justified they may appear to Americans -- do not reassure other countries. The US may not respect the UN, but operating unilaterally outside the UN process contributes to the inevitable paranoia in other countries. After all the US has acted in recent years as a bully, and any country not actively part of the "gang" is supect at best and an enemy at worst.

Answer 3

Putin's an fool. This chucklehead could not cope with a bowling league not to show an entire us of a. His us of a's loss of existence a sluggish dying. he's equipped an financial equipment on the producing and sales of hands (with some oil thrown in for stable degree), and he sells it to every person who has the money. yet by some skill, he has the gaul to throw those style of comments around. generic. each and every disaster/disaster that has arisen in Russia on account that this goomba's been in can charge has led to depressing failure and mass casualties. The sinking of the Russian sub-- enable em sit down on the backside of the sea to drown. The Chechans taking on the Opera domicile and the Beslan college replaced into in fact a massacre. He took down the wealthiest guy in Russia (president of the biggest oil business enterprise), for investment political fighters, the two liberal and communist. Putin's a mobster, undeniable and straightforward. He believes in communism-- "the cave in of the Soviet Union replaced into the excellent geopolitical disaster"-- so he mentioned, then backpeddled quicker than Lance Armstrong whilst the international denounced such talk. no remember what he espouses to something of the international, he's a hardened commie, undeniable and straightforward. the human beings of Russia have no faith in this loser. He runs the rustic like a retarded Don, together with his pathetic cronies the two licking his boot heels or whispering in his ear.

Answer 4

Yeah like that will ever happen.

Bombs are so useless. the only reason we have any is so defense contractors can rip off the tax payers.

Remember Torah Bora "The worlds biggest bunker buster bomb will get Osama" Bzzzt Wrong

Then the night the Iraq War kicked off. "Bunker busting bombs were just dropped on Saddams Fortress" Another Bzzzt Wrong Saddam is fat a sassy standing trial.

People like Rumsfield and Bush watch movies and think real bombs and weapons are as dramatic as movie bombs.

It is a waste of time to try to win a ground war with air power. The only bombs that work are carpet bombs and air fuel bombs that turn cities into ashes.

Go big Red Go

Answer 5

The "Cold war" will never be over in terms of nuclear war. The threat of nuclear war will only continue until the end of time.

Answer 6

The cold war was just the U.S and those darn Ruskies not speaking to each other. Yeah there could possibly be a nuclear attack with all these mad dictators running amok.

Answer 7

They are afraid of accidents and a crazy president who might push the trigger.

Answer 8

dude i dunno history is repeating its self i am sick of this why cant we just leave eachother alone we need to have walls around every country so no one knows what the other is nor dose.