The irony of the Ukraine war is that the United States — by investing heavily in Ukraine’s success and Russia’s defeat — may be increasing the risks that President Putin will be so threatened with failure, he’ll unleash nuclear weapons. If Putin were to decide to use nukes, despite President’s Biden’s warning of “catastrophic consequences,” military experts worry there won’t be any indications in advance.

There are warning signs when strategic nuclear weapons are involved in training exercises or are transported, but that’s not the case with tactical weapons. Most of Russia’s aircraft can deliver tactical nuclear weapons (in addition to its conventional missile and rocket launchers). That means it’s possible the Russians could swap out conventional weapons for atomic bombs and the U.S. might never know until it’s too late. The threat is real, according to Straight Arrow News contributor Newt Gingrich.

I recommend to people that they read Philip Wiley’s old novel, “Tomorrow,” written way back in 1954, when we were first coming to grips with nuclear weapons. It’s the story of two cities in the Midwest that are near each other and what happens when a nuclear weapon goes off. It’s horrifying. And we should be really seriously worried. The potential of an event which could literally end civilization as we’ve known it is real. 

We’ve been living with it now since 1945. We have been very, very lucky. We now have countries from North Korea to China, to India to Pakistan, potentially Iran, certainly in Great Britain and France, the United States and Russia, all with nuclear weapons. Other countries could get nuclear weapons very quickly. The Japanese could probably get a nuclear weapon within a year or less. 

So once it becomes acceptable to use these horrifying weapons, the world will become more dangerous very rapidly. And I think we’re now faced with a problem, at least as big as the Cuban Missile Crisis, and maybe bigger, because I think Putin may in fact be more unpredictable than Khrushchev was. 

So pay attention. Understand this is about history, not politics, not daily entertainment, but the real deal, and it could change our lives forever.