"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (4 Viewers)

[Glider]

Joe Biden visits Kyiv in major show of support for Ukraine

US president meets Volodymyr Zelenskiy days before first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion

www.theguardian.com

That's going to put the wind up a few people. The Russian propaganda organs - and a few sections of the 'alternative' US media - are going to turn positively purple.

My guess is that it was Biden's security detail who first when purple when they heard of the proposed trip

 

[Admiral Beez]

My guess is that it was Biden's security detail who first when purple when they heard of the proposed trip

The article mentioned the Russians were forewarned of Biden's trip so as not to overstep. I wonder how that works, how much notice? It really is amazing to see POTUS standing in an active war zone declaring support for Ukraine. Putin's inner circle has to be wondering if they've underestimated US resolve - before they're tossed out a window.

 

[WAFU]

Well, in fairness, when was the last US Navy engagement against a maritime force? Leyte Gulf in October 1944? Granted, the USN maintained high proficiency during the Cold War...but it's still a LOOONG time since the USN participated in a true naval engagement.

The last people to pick a naval fight with the USN were the Iranians - ended very badly for the Iranians - all hands to bathe

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The article mentioned the Russians were forewarned of Biden's trip so as not to overstep. I wonder how that works, how much notice? It really is amazing to see POTUS standing in an active war zone declaring support for Ukraine. Putin's inner circle has to be wondering if they've underestimated US resolve - before they're tossed out a window.

They were simply told that if they do anything that remotely endangers Biden's life that all hell will come down on them.

Basically they told Putin Fuck around and find out.

Kyiv is probably the safest place in the world right now.

 

[WAFU]

If POTUS had been killed or injured while in Ukraine, no if's, no buts, no maybe's, a state of War would now exist between the United States and Russia.
Thou shalt not kill the President, thou shalt not kill the Commander in Chief. Technically, that's a 'Decapitation Strike' - and and that's a nuclear tripwire matter.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Exactly

 

[Admiral Beez]

If POTUS had been killed or injured while in Ukraine, no if's, no buts, no maybe's, a state of War would now exist between the United State and Russia.
Thou shalt not kill the President, thou shalt not kill the Commander in Chief. Technically, that's a 'Decapitation Strike' - and and that's a nuclear tripwire matter.

Imagine waking up Kamala Harris, "uhm… morning Ma'am, you're POTUS now, are we declaring war on Russia?"

Had Biden been killed, Russia would have denied any involvement and blamed Ukrainian "terrorists". Unless Harris has definitive proof that Russia made the hit, I don't think a deeply divided US Congress would agree to declare war on a nuclear armed Russia. And what would the US war aims be? You killed our president, so we get to kill yours - and for that we're willing to risk millions of American lives?

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Imagine waking up Kamala Harris, "uhm… morning Ma'am, you're POTUS now, are we declaring war on Russia?"

Had Biden been killed, Russia would have denied any involvement and blamed Ukrainian "terrorists". Unless Harris has definitive proof that Russia made the hit, I don't think a deeply divided US Congress would agree to declare war on a nuclear armed Russia. And what would the US war aims be? You killed our president, so we get to kill yours - and for that we're willing to risk millions of American lives?

I think you are underestimating American resolve at that point.

Regardless of ones political leanings, there is no faster way in this world short of a direct attack on the United States that will bring the entire nation together.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

If another country targets and assassinates a sitting US President, it becomes a whole different ball game.

 

[WAFU]

Imagine waking up Kamala Harris, "uhm… morning Ma'am, you're POTUS now, are we declaring war on Russia?"

Had Biden been killed, Russia would have denied any involvement and blamed Ukrainian "terrorists". Unless Harris has definitive proof that Russia made the hit, I don't think a deeply divided US Congress would agree to declare war on a nuclear armed Russia. And what would the US war aims be? You killed our president, so we get to kill yours - and for that we're willing to risk millions of American lives?

While Hollywierd makes a great play in movies of a dithering weak Deputy POTUS like a rabbit in the headlamps being the person on the spot, they forget the Joint Chiefs get a vote.
POTUS is killed by a missile strike in Kyiv? A FLASH message would go out to all US military forces ordering them to the highest state o alert and to respond with deadly force to any act of aggression. Weapons Free in that situation and its Game On

 

[wlewisiii]

Imagine waking up Kamala Harris, "uhm… morning Ma'am, you're POTUS now, are we declaring war on Russia?"

Had Biden been killed, Russia would have denied any involvement and blamed Ukrainian "terrorists". Unless Harris has definitive proof that Russia made the hit, I don't think a deeply divided US Congress would agree to declare war on a nuclear armed Russia. And what would the US war aims be? You killed our president, so we get to kill yours - and for that we're willing to risk millions of American lives?

15 minute submarine launched ICBM flight time to Moscow. IIRC.

 

[Glider]

While Hollywierd makes a great play in movies of a dithering weak Deputy POTUS dithering like a rabbit in the headlamps being the person on the spot, they forget the Joint Chiefs get a vote.
POTUS is killed by a missile strike in Kyiv? A FLASH message would go out to all US military forces ordering them to the highest state o alert and to respond with deadly force to any act of aggression. Weapons Free in that situation and its Game On

In this situation which clearly has significant risks. My expectation is that 'what if' responses hadn't already been put in place. None of them would have been good for Russia.

I still believe that there is a reason that chemical weapons haven't been used by Russia, and it isn't because of the goodness in their hearts.

 

[WAFU]

In this situation which clearly has significant risks. My expectation is that 'what if' responses hadn't already been put in place. None of them would have been good for Russia.

I still believe that there is a reason that chemical weapons haven't been used by Russia, and it isn't because of the goodness in their hearts.

The very BEST outcome for the Orsc would be us watching footage on CNN of NATO forces bombing everything orc in Ukraine into blazing scrap, and it raining cruise missiles and JSOWS on anything looking crooked at Ukraine in the surrounding border areas.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

In this situation which clearly has significant risks. My expectation is that 'what if' responses hadn't already been put in place. None of them would have been good for Russia.

I still believe that there is a reason that chemical weapons haven't been used by Russia, and it isn't because of the goodness in their hearts.

Ding, ding, ding!

 

[GrauGeist]

The U.S. doesn't need to fling nukes at Russia, their conventional arsenal would be enough to turn any area of Russian territory into a freshly tilled and levelled landscape, ready to plant sunflowers...

 

[SaparotRob]

The very BEST outcome for the Orsc would be us watching footage on CNN of NATO forces bombing everything orc in Ukraine into blazing scrap, and it raining cruise missiles and JSOWS on anything looking crooked at Ukraine in the surrounding border areas.

And that's just the warning!

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Imagine waking up Kamala Harris, "uhm… morning Ma'am, you're POTUS now, are we declaring war on Russia?"

Had Biden been killed, Russia would have denied any involvement and blamed Ukrainian "terrorists". Unless Harris has definitive proof that Russia made the hit, I don't think a deeply divided US Congress would agree to declare war on a nuclear armed Russia. And what would the US war aims be? You killed our president, so we get to kill yours - and for that we're willing to risk millions of American lives?

Congress was deeply divided on 6 Dec 1941, too. On 8 Dec, not so much.

The nuclear dimension makes it more fraught, to be sure.

As for war aims: the crushing of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the deposal of Putin by violence or machination, the destruction of any Russian assets involved in the hypothetical strike, and hopefully the dissolution of Russia -- but lacking that, empowering the former SSRs to take a more assertive stance towards Russian attempts at dominance.

 

[RogerdeLluria]

If POTUS had been killed or injured while in Ukraine, no if's, no buts, no maybe's, a state of War would now exist between the United States and Russia.
Thou shalt not kill the President, thou shalt not kill the Commander in Chief. Technically, that's a 'Decapitation Strike' - and and that's a nuclear tripwire matter.

Probably that is all they told to Russia after informing Biden was going to Kiev.

Imagine waking up Kamala Harris, "uhm… morning Ma'am, you're POTUS now, are we declaring war on Russia?"

I think it would be more like:
"uhm… morning Ma'am, you're POTUS now, we have declared war on Russia!"

 

[Greg Boeser]

Only Congress can declare war.
"Good morning, Ma'am. You are POTUS. Sign this emergency use of force authorization!

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when Moscow was told to fuck around and find out.