i do think it could be the one thing to bring everyone back together a good ol russian stomp

why yes, a good ol' scattering our very atoms into the air as radioactive dust would bring us closer together than ever

so you think we would go direct to nukes?

no

but what other outcome would a solid "russian stomp" get?

i guess i see your point there

their response to the attack would be nukes, fair point

nuclear deterance

Russia can't win army vs army

but they can cause Mutually assured destruction

ya thats what i come back to

Metal Gear solid covered this

"If you win, we all go"

the "deterance" we claim to have ready

we haz nukes

they do too

tru

which is why i really dont think it would be as cut and dry as we would declair open war

if russia handed over the agents they claim were "responsible" i bet we would wash our hands and call it a day

just going off normal responses here, not suggesting anything crazy

yea but putin cant turn over the agents. It would make him appear weak

exactly

I think it is time to elect Vermin Supreme

look weak or have a nuke at your throat.......... i bet he goes weak

if he doesnt get ousted

almost all cases of the eastern powers being difficult is meant to be a sign of strength

there comes a point where russia would have a response of their own

and we wont touch russia

if "their guy"

was found out

Nah, they'd just take sanctions, and then dodge them with 3rd parties

and everything will be the same again

how strong will putin appear to russia at that point

his own party would kick him out

cant nuke them and invading russia never works unless you are the mongols

or hand him over to avoid war

they wuoldn't hand him over

cuz thats a sign to each other that they're weak, and could just be next the next time the US would make demands

i think you way overestimate their allegience to putin

you can only sanction the russians so much

its not allegiance to putin at all

But if 10 people are all willing to sell the otehr 9 out