As Ben Wallace pointed out today the Putin phrase of putting nuclear deterrent on a "special regime of combat duty" is a gibberish phrase he just invented. It isn't a recognised escalation level. I actually think it's helpful for Putin to make overt Nuclear threats. It helps China to gradually move away from their supportive position to a more neutral stance without them losing face.

The only country to ever deploy nuclear weapons, not once but twice, is the United States of America.
Moscow has historical factual evidence to be concerned.

Wallace is clueless, all nuclear capable countries have a certain % of their nuclear weapons on launch readiness, President Putin has increased the Russian % in response to the Western financial attack on Russia

This is the same Ben Wallace who said his Scots Guards defeated the Czar during the Crimean war and they could do it again. It is not too difficult because I don’t think they wield much power.
I am certain what Putin said was out of desperation but it is also a time to give him a way out, not popular but by far the safest for the world.

I can't comment on Ben Wallace generally, I have no view on him, but I think he's correct in his analysis of what Putin said. I don't feel nuclear weapons are at a higher rate of readiness than this time last week.



I don't see what way out the West can offer, popular or not. For me the two things that will change the situation are China tip-toeing away from their support (and I think they'd like to do this), and very sadly, the second thing is the Russian people seeing a lot of body bags coming home. Everything I've seen shows a slightly bewildered Russian Army wondering why it's there so I have no malice against the majority of lads they've sent in. I just think Russian public opinion is a major factor is this ending.

It's gone a bit quiet on here recently vis a vie Boris bashing, could I detect an air of grudging admiration towards him the way he's thrust himself to the fore in this wicked business in Eastern Europe.

Nice one Chiz

I think that you could be mistaking him for someone that actually has some influence on the international stage.
Great photo opportunities with troops in Poland but, once again too little and too late.

Meanwhile, Russia is killing their neighbours.

Just remind me, what there is to admire Boris for over this issue ??

For someone who doesn't have an opinion and/or doesn't really care about Boris/Politics etc. you seem to have quite a lot to say in defence of Boris & The Tories

You have to remember that he has a keen interest in fishing.
Mind you, it's still worth jumping on the hook occasionally.

Your missing the point here squire, It's not about me and my opinions about politics, and incidentally I don't have an opinion about Boris, he's not that important to me, I simply commented on the lack of Boris bashing from the usual suspects, which tempted me to ask the question are they now regretting the abuse been showered on him and and is the silence a sign that he's a better politician than he's been given credit for.