PRESS RELEASE

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NATO Is Engaged in Nuclear Escalation Against Russia

Dec. 15, 2015 (EIRNS)—Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists wrote, last week on his Strategy Security blog, that Polish Deputy Defense Minister Tomasz Szatkowski’s statement on Dec. 4 that Poland was looking to join NATO’s nuclear sharing agreement, by which U.S. nuclear weapons could be placed on Polish soil, wasn’t just a misstatement, as it was treated, but rather

"reflects deepening discussions within NATO about how the alliance should adjust its nuclear posture in Europe in response to Russia’s recent military operations and statements."

Other elements of this trend include statements by U.K. officials that NATO is considering resuming its nuclear escalation exercises to counter Russia; Operation Polar Growl, last April, during which four U.S. B-52 bombers took off from their base in Louisiana and flew over the North Pole to the North Sea. While not loaded, the four bombers

"were equipped to carry a total of 80 air-launched cruise missiles with a total explosive power equivalent to 1,000 Hiroshima bombs—a subtle warning to Putin not seen since the Cold War."

"NATO is starting to adjust its nuclear posture in Europe in ways that seem similar (but far from identical) to the Cold War playbook: increased reliance on U.S. nuclear forces, adjustment of strategy and planning, more exercises, and rotational deployments of nuclear-capable forces,"

Kristensen writes.