So what do you all think of Putin's decision to move nuclear weapons closer to the Polish border

[WinchesterWoman]

Some say he would push the button because he knows that the West never would. I'm so interested to hear what people think.

oh anna - what summer

am off to home base to buy plastic sheeting - i'm sure some website somewhere said it would be handy

You can use it to collect water for a solar still. Except it wouldn't work as nuclear fallout will block the necessary sunlight. Buy more tins of tuna instead.

I'd be more worried if he were to try to force a land bridge between Kaliningrad and Russia. I'm more worried about Iran making nukes on the quiet, and about what N Korea does.

I think Putin would like the Cold war back again...I must admit I would. I felt safer then, as MAD worked.

I am in reality most afraid of a dirty bomb. Something that got virtually no news coverage last year was the trafficking of radioactive materials up through Moldova.

They've also not got a great record with bio weapons.

Not worried about him, he's pragmatic.

Now Iran, or Korea or Erdogan, or Trump, that's more worrying.

Also, NATO moved forces on the Polish border it was against the agreements they had with Russia.

It seems Putin is paying back in kind now.

Putin is a sociopath and probably a psychopath. If he is pragmatic, he may be pragmatically thinking 'well they won't fire back' so I can play chicken until - whoops.

We push, he pushes.
And vice versa.

I agree we have done pushing. Ukraine. But that place is now the most awful and under-reported conflict zone and it's all Russia's doing. (after our initial support of an undemocratic coup etc etc)

He is dangerous bully, no doubt about it, but we have form in meddling everywhere.

winch yy, a dirty bomb is on my mind too.

I asked my Russian friend earlier for his opinion (he no longer lives in Russia) and his response was 'maybe it's surprising to you but there are NATO weapons all around Russia, including in Poland' echoing what AnnaForbes said upthread.

I think Putin is belligerent and a bully and also agree with him probably being a sociopath and a psychopath but I don't see him sending a nuclear weapon into Europe knowing NATO's fire power. [I hope]

Putin is a definite psycho.

What should we do? Well certainly not vote for Corbyn and his plan to scrap nuclear weapons.

WinchesterwomanI am in reality most afraid of a dirty bomb That was the worry from about 1989 onwards when lots of radioactive materials went missing (or were unaccounted for) when the Soviet Union broke down.

Reading some of the stuff that is happening in Turkey, and knowing that many Turks posted overseas have had their careers ended, their assets seized, their children put into care, their pensions are therefore gone, frightens me. A fair few are claiming political asylum.

So putin has ordered all families and officials back to the father/motherland - i think its terrifying, Putin terrifies me.

From where?

www.thesun.co.uk/news/1962638/putin-orders-all-russian-children-and-relatives-studying-abroad-to-return-to-the-motherland-as-he-prepares-for-wwiii/

I wouldn't put anything past him

This is getting pretty scary and not sure where it will end. The media seem more concerned with Kim Kardashian being robbed

Russian officials have far too many assets in the West to risk them.
He needs to be seen doing something.
It will blow off.

Is it in the Independent yet?
They are Russian owned and seen to be well informed?

Hmmm, don't like it.

Lots of sabre rattling on Ria.

It's like a bad dream with the US election looming

I didn't see anything about officials being ordered back on Ria though.