The President warned that we have not been this close to this type of conflict since the missile crisis in Cuba
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, warned of an “Armageddon” for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The President compared the scenario to that Cuban Missile Crisisin 1962. At that time, the United States and the Soviet Union were on the verge of triggering a nuclear conflict.
The phrase occurs at the height of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. After 6 months of a slow but devastating war, The Kiev armed forces have launched a counter-offensive to retake the territoryY Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of four regions of the neighboring countrythrough referendums not validated by the international community.
In this regard, the Russian leader has already mentioned the possibility of using a nuclear arsenal. A few weeks ago, when he called for the mobilization of 300,000 reservists, he pointed out that if there was a threat to territorial integrity will use all means at their disposal.
But despite the concerns of the leaders, US authorities are pointing this out there is nothing to indicate that the Kremlin is preparing an attack of this magnitude.
What is Armageddon?
The term Armageddon appears in chapter 16 of the book of Revelation in the Bible.
For they are spirits of demons doing signs and going to the kings of the earth throughout the world to gather them to battle in that great day of Almighty God. Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who keeps watch and keeps his clothes, lest he go naked and they see his shame. and collected them at the place called Armageddon in Hebrew.
For many, this concept refers to its literal translation, the Mountain of Megiddo, In Israel. However, other interpretations – more popular in general culture – make the relationship closed the final battle between good and evil.
Nuclear Armageddon between Russia and the US?
From this last interpretation arises the concept of nuclear Armageddon (1, 2 and 3), which refers to a possible conflict with nuclear weapons which – due to its immense power – would produce one global or continental catastropheat least.
For this reason, the missile crisis in Cuba during the Cold War – when the United States discovered that the USSR was installing a nuclear arsenal on the island – is considered the closest thing to a nuclear Armageddon. Hence the reference to Joe Biden believing that Putin does not joke “when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons”.
But tempers are cool in the White House. “We see no reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear position, nor do we have any indication that Russia is preparing to immediately use nuclear weapons,” Presidential spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
The agency also pointed out that “Russia’s nuclear rhetoric was reckless and irresponsible. But if the Cuban Missile Crisis taught us anything, it’s the value of reducing nuclear risk and not underestimating it.
In 2019, Princeton University ran a simulation of what the conflict between world powers would be like. The exercise uses “extensive data sets of currently deployed nuclear weapons, weapon yields, and potential targets for specific weapons.” It was conducted to raise awareness of the catastrophic consequences that nuclear Armageddon would leave behind.