More Putin faux superpower nonsense to distract the poor, hard-pressed Russian people from their misery.
Even in the unlikely event this thing is real, so what? Russia and the world would perish just as quickly in nuclear Armageddon as it would with ICBMs only.
Meanwhile, the bomb makers of the thriving US weapons of mass destruction industry will joyfully squeal for billions more in taxpayer debt to counter this latest "existential threat", cheer led by the current White House occupant between extended periods "Executive Time" TV viewing.
Win-Win for liars on both sides of the globe!!
1
Wow...the russians cracked the same hypersonic technology we cracked back in the 60s.
Way to go russia...way to go.
Soon you guys will be where we were back in the 80s.
Remember russia, there is nothing wrong with The Bronze.
2
Of course we believe you bilbo putin.
Why all you have to do is look around your own house to see all the technological marvels brought to us by the high tech russians.
Not your flat panel tv, or your dvr, or your remote controls, or your laptops or your smartphones or your production cars or yout clothes or the food you eat of course...but all the other stuff.
The russians are going to regret messing with the betters in the West when we put an adult American back in charge.
So if you're gonna use your invincible hypersonic russian missiles against us then you had better get a move on little man.
1
I may be the only one who thinks this, but its almost as if Putin realizes that Russia is being eclipsed by China as the true Eastern super power.
He is desperately trying to hold onto his spot in the "Cold War" era pecking order.
1
This is so stupid. I honestly think this is more for consumption at home than a real threat. Are they going to do a first strike that would wipe out all our retaliatory response? Would they get our land based, bomber and submarine based weapons all on one throw of the dice. I think not. Is Putin looking forward to living under a rock for the next 50 years until the fallout disappears? Probably not. This is someone who wants to be recognized as a superpower and no one wants to acknowledge them anymore.
5
A invisible hypersonic missile, that's nice. Once it hits there will be hundreds if not thousands of regular old nuclear missiles heading his way. There is no possible way to stop them all. End of life on earth.
Are we supposed to be impressed by this stupid threat? It seems trump's stupidity is starting to rub off on Putin.
Remember all those missiles the Russians loved to parade around? Most were mockups.
I've been up close and personal with Russian airliners, the quality was quite crude to put it kindly. After WW2 we got most of the best German scientists, they didn't want to end up in the Soviet Union.
3
If Putin’s point is that they have a nuclear weapons system that could destroy the US I would doubt that.
But Vladimir, why?
"Stubborn EU powers and U.S. Congress will not give great Donald to bring greatness to Russia."
But you can never use such weapons. You will be annihilated—not Russia, YOU. You think the Deep State doesn't know where you are every second?
"No matter. Democracy in Russia depends on my leadership. Hypersonic missles make Russia stand erect as world power."
When will the Superpowers and lot of other world countries decide enough is enough , Hold a General Meeting at the United Nations ,with All Countries, all Leaders should get together and Shake Hands and agree the world & Millions of ordinary Folk are no longer interested in Conflict's, War's but Just want to live in piece? , enjoy their family life and have the oppotunity to travel where and if they like and can afford it. Think about How many Lives have been lost because some one, or a Country does not agree with someone else , as in Views, Religion or whatever.. Seems so simple to do , but will never happen in my opinion )
Unless the Superpowers , & Counties agree to make one Organization a Universal Type Police Force, with Teeth to End all Conflicts.. But we all Know some Countries can not exist , if they do not Make Armaments & sell or Barter for Income. And Dictators may never agree. To end their Rule, You may agree or disagree, but everyone is entitled to have and share their opinion . I have traveled the World and believe me most country Folk only want to live in Peace Feed their Families etc,(Unless they have been Brainwashed ) It seems We still live in a world of Who has the Most Guns Oil and Money to call the Shots.. Comments ?
3
Putin needs to read more. MAD, Mutual Assured Destruction. Don't forget it. The nuclear winter will suffocate earth for centuries.
1
The scrapping of the INF threatens European NATO members the most - not the US mainland or Russia. Indeed, that was probably what Putin and trump agreed to do during one of their secret meetings. Putin's lovin' it. Another box checked by his apprentice.
The next Democratic POTUS - replacing the trump - should point out the increased danger that these mid-range nukes pose to China, well within range while the USA is way beyond their range.
Who cares if Putin has an expensive hypersonic nuke. If he uses it, it is all over ... for ALL OF US. It will just take a few minutes less. I certainly hope Putin's many dachas, especially the mega-dacha on the Black Sea coast are all on our target list.
With trump and Putin we know for sure we can't trust either equally - no need to verify.
1
The problem with "arms races" is that on side always considered itself so much smarter than the other -- until the other side proves them wrong.
Putin is either too young or too stupid to believe that someone, somewhere will not develop a means of rendering his "invincible hypersonic missiles" obsolete -- probably shortly after the first is launched.
@Fred It's crazy. US Navy and Air Force now have prototype laser weapons. The more technology progresses the more science fiction becomes science truth
1
Gosh...the rooskies cracked hypersonic tech.
You guys are awesome.
Nobody tell them about the SR-71 Blackbird.
4
In reality, the Soviet Union crumbled because they were unable to compete with the United States economically and militarily. I would submit that, if anything, the Russia of today is weaker than the Soviet Union was 20 years ago. Who would’ve thought that the Soviets, after overthrowing Communism, would have descended into a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by one evil man. The sort of hyperbole as expressed in the opinion here about invincible missiles is laughable. Putin can claim what he wants, just as our charlatan-in-chief does, but one day soon, hopefully, Russians will tire of an oligarchy that makes our wealth distribution seem like Denmark times 10. For better or worse, one thing that Russia or any other country will never attempt to do is to compete with us in an arms race. That’s simply an unfortunate fact of life for us as well as them, and Putin knows it better than anyone else.
1
@ManhattanWilliam
The USSR didn’t ‘crumble’ because it couldn’t compete with the US. It simply collapsed under its own weight, like a badly designed road bridge.
To claim that the smaller, leaner and easier to manage Russia, largely open to the world without having to carry the weight of an empire and the loser periphery states is weaker, than the USSR is another wowzie.
I can’t tell the future, but one thing is certain: no empire lasts forever. Not Rome, not the Ottoman, British, Russian, or American.
2
It is not a bluff but being invincible is a lie. And of course we need and want the same so that MAD can continue if needed.
1
@vulcanalex
Well since it will be never actually be used...he can claim whatever he wants about it.
First trump threatens us, them putin threatens us.
Think the duo of destruction is sweating?
6
"Some experts dismissed Mr. Putin’s program as a bluff ...", is likely to be mostly correct. As a Physicist who engaged in materials development during Reagan's star wars programs, I can say that the technology for Mach 6 ground level missiles is challenging, although it depends whether the goal is to hit anything in particular or just send in a "scud" with only an approximate idea of targeting. One could then include a nuclear device big enough to assure destruction of a substantial portion of a city, for example.
The unfortunate aspect of articles such as this is that the actual status of US technology is sensitive or classified and the status of US missiles of that ilk are undoubtedly classified. Any "experts" that the NYT may be forced to rely upon most likely are forced to guess a lot since they are not the ones who have or have had security clearances so that they really know.
As Putin indicates, anti-hypersonic missile countermeasures verge on impossible including success rates of our present anti-ICBM technologies. Large resources have been put into anti-missile technologies with only limited success.
If the US had any common sense -- none with Trump in charge--, we'd be pursuing compromises and Treaties with Putin and not go ahead with Trump's style of in-your-face antagonism. That is particularly since Trump is utterly totally ignorant of efforts at countermeasures that have been developed and he has essentially no knowledge at all of what may be possible.
13
@dpaqcluck Sure treaties have always happened when we were behind others, not even close we have always been ahead when a real treaty happens.
1
@dpaqcluck to know what's what, Trump would need to start listening to his security briefs. A thing, I cannot see on the horizon..
Please recognize our brand!!! Screams Putin. Remember us... the frienemy you loved to hate. Don't you remember the Cold War's chilling certainty of nuclear annihilation. Let's tear up these treaties and get the band back together. We could gin up a Cold War redux, with faster, more destructive weapons... threaten each other a few times... then get together to sign a NEW peace treaty. No one gets hurt! We both win. Russia get to be recognized as a Superpower again. Donny, gets a second term. The treaty is recognized and abided by so long as a Trump is at the helm (maybe Ivanka, then little Donald.) Keep it simple. Every good guy needs a villain. We could be that for each other again, if only for a little while. It is... how you say... a symbiosis?
6
The greatest gift to the US from Putin is his existence. A single, all-encompassing bad boy devil in its most sinister form, capable of everything, lurking everywhere. A convenient target all ills of this world can be blamed on.
Makes it quite easy, doesn't it?
Pull another Ronny Reagan, and fake out them there Russians
Tell them you're developing Star-Wars technology, and let them spend billions on their arms.