Today looks to be a very big news day—accumulating developments appear to be clarifying the emerging geo-strategic and geo-political landscape. Let’s start, however, with a backstory that explains the leverage that Russia has vs. the US. A major caveat.
I’m not a military expert. Russia has been very public about its possession of major new weapons systems—especially its anti-missile capabilities as well as its offensive hypersonic missile capabilities. Putin and other Russian officials have been open in suggesting that the US has no technical response to these developments. The Russians unquestionably know far more about that than I do—I simply can’t speak to that. On the other hand, events appear to suggest that Putin is speaking truth. I offer the below simply for consideration.
First is an article from a Canadian think tank, dated toward the beginning of the conflict or special operation in Ukraine. The article appeared at The Hill and is dated 3/8/22. I excerpt a small portion that deals specifically that Russian could deploy EMP weapons against the US. The article presupposes a missile launch of such weapons rather than a satellite launch:
Could the Ukraine war devolve into an EMP apocalypse for America?
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In past wars, the United States has remained untouched physically from kinetic war on its landmass. It was the “Arsenal of Democracy” in World War II. And to paraphrase the thinking of the People’s Republic of China about the South China Sea, the United States is the largest immobile semi-self-sufficient aircraft carrier in the world. It is too big to sink.
But it is not too big to paralyze. Cyber attacks and their effects are not enough; they can be planned for, limited and contained. However, a missile-delivered electromagnetic pulse (EMP) of sufficient size, exploded high above St. Louis, for example, could basically fry the electricity systems of the United States and those of the main populated parts of Canada and northern Mexico. The resulting social catastrophe of such a doomsday scenario would forcibly preoccupy national, state and local authorities with their own internal problems.
Imagine most of the United States with no electricity, no ATMs, few working vehicles, few functioning hospitals, no delivery of prescription medicines, or food or fresh water or sewage treatment. Most of the U.S. population could be reduced to a lifestyle like that of the 1800s. EMP Commission estimates project a death toll of 90 percent of the population within one year, were something of this nature to happen. Remaining authorities would be overwhelmed by civil unrest decimating the dwindling population as they fought for their survival.
The question, then, is: “Would such an EMP attack provoke a nuclear response by the United States?” ...
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…, the American response likely would be based on 30-year-old nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) targeted toward Russia. U.S. missiles would be met with batteries of highly capable Russian anti-missile S300s, S400s and S500s.
Russia recently demonstrated that its S550 anti-satellite missiles can destroy American military satellites, which would then degrade U.S. command-control-communications and GPS coordination of the targeting mechanisms in U.S. missiles. Consequently, U.S. missiles might be rerouted — who knows where — or more easily destroyed by Russia’s anti-missile defenses.
Of course, if the United States were to launch ICBMs against Russia, unquestionably Moscow would respond in kind. If they did, an already EMP-devastated U.S. could be utterly destroyed.
This would leave China and Russia as the sole remaining superpowers, able to dominate the world. …
This unthinkable scenario is why we believe the future of mankind could be at stake in Russia’s war in Ukraine, if the worst-case possibilities were to unfold.
Kim Dotcom has weighed in on this scenario—as of 3/28/22. What he adds is the contention that Russia has satellite launched EMP weapons in addition to missile launched weapons. Again, this is offered FWIW—I don’t really know whether Kim Dotcom knows what he’s talking about, but I presume the Canadians do, and Kim’s account more or less dovetails with theirs:
Why Russia may think it can win a war against the US.
The war in Ukraine is a US proxy war against Russia. Leaders in the EU and Ukraine know this, Russia knows it and some of you begin to understand that.
Here’s what I think everybody should be worried about…Putin went into this war with the understanding that it is a trap. He did it anyway. Let’s assume that Russia has a strategy. US war propaganda tells us that Putin is a lunatic.
I think Putin wants to turn the Ukraine war into a war against the US and that he thinks he can win.I already know what the replies will look like:
“That’s suicide.”
“It cannot be won.”
“You’re just anti-American.”
My understanding of the Russian nuclear, Super-EMP and defensive capabilities is that the Russian military is superior to the US military.
Here’s why…Russia has Super-EMPs. They orbit earth disguised as satellites. Just Google it. Mind blowing stuff.
If Russia detonates Super EMPs in Space above the United States the US power grid goes offline instantly. Most electronics get fried and the Internet is gone, permanently.US military systems are not designed to withstand 200,000 volts per meter. A Super EMP would instantly destroy the majority of military tech inside the US.
Some US ICBMs are shielded inside their launch tubes but most of the 30+ year old installations won’t survive a Super EMP.The remaining nuclear missiles if launched can be neutralized in transit with a follow-up Super EMP. The burst travels at the speed of light. No missile can escape it.
And 70% of US nuclear submarines are in US ports. They don’t carry ICBMs. They can’t reach Russia.In a first strike scenario Russia can send low yield nuclear payloads on hypersonic missiles, for example from submarines, to destroy the nuclear capabilities of the US military outside of the US.
This strategy doesn’t have to capture the entire US nuclear arsenal. Why?…Russia has over 10,000 interceptor missiles that can destroy incoming ICBMs. So as long as the number of incoming missiles is small enough the Russian military can neutralize them before detonation.
Unlike Russia the US doesn’t have hypersonic missiles or Super-EMPs. China does.At this point in this scenario Russia has not yet fired a single high-yield nuclear weapon.
…It’s a fact that Russia has these capabilities and Russia must have a strategy or else they wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine.
There is a real possibility that Putin and his military strategists think that they can beat the US military. And here is why I’m telling you this…...
Let’s tell our leaders to stop this war before it’s too late.• • •
I conclude with my usual reminder that Bluto Barr and the rest of the GOPe thought in this scenario a Zhou regime would be good enough for We The People. That’s the quality of thinking you get with the best government a grossly inflated currency can buy.
No one can know here in the West what is going on inside the Kremlin. I read the transcript of Putin's Feb 24 speech today 3 times. It was reasoned. It was logical. They were not the words of a madman. I read them because the latest propaganda offering in the UK today is that Putin is not being told the truth about how badly things are going (we are expected to believe he doesn't have direct access to the internet??), which I found particularly condescending. Anyway, I thought the paragraph in which he addresses NATO in that speech relevant to this discussion:
"No matter how the events unfold, we are ready. All the necessary decisions in this regard have been taken. I hope that my words will be heard."
EMP or otherwise I know not. But I take from those words that he has gamed the situation out like a chess master and Boris Johnson, Biden et al should heed him.
Ahhhh. Who are we kidding? We all know we aren't gonna be nuked or EMPd by the Russkies or Chicoms or NoKos.
Our OWN government will take care of that themselves.