End of the deterrent?

"Once the United States is dispatched of, Putin would no longer need a deterrent like a nuclear bomb. He would roll forward, over the Euro Zone, just using armor and air power. It would be the end of NATO."

Here we are. Maybe standing on the edge of the greatest Euro massacre since World War II. Or - maybe standing on the precipice of something horrible. By horrible, I mean the nuclear massacre of millions of innocents. Maybe even billions before it is all said and done. And why? Because of one man. A man, who made a very foolish move against a neighboring country, violating ever code of civilized conduct, and now is becoming desperate. So desperate, he might even believe a nuclear war is winnable. That a nuclear war would not lead to the end of days. Only victory for Mother Russia.

In the United States, we have almost 6,000 nuclear missiles/bombs. Just like Russia has. We have had a nuclear bomb for over 75 years. We have used it twice, to end World War II in the Pacific. Other than that, our nukes have ALWAYS been there as a deterrent. As has Russia's nukes. It has allowed all of us, to live in a very fragile world, under a very fragile peace.

But now, things might be changing. Putin is like a caged animal. He has put himself, his country, in a box canyon. The world has now reclassified him (those who are able to see video through a fair and open media), as a thug and war criminal. So what does he have to lose? He could launch his beloved new toy, the hypersonic missile, at his favorite targets in the West. He knows the United States now has weak leadership. Not only weak, but also indecisive. By the time the United States decided to strike back at Russia, it would be game over. Russia would win.

Once the United States is dispatched of, Putin would no longer need a deterrent like a nuclear bomb. He would roll forward over the Euro Zone, just using armor and air power. It would be the end of NATO. First the United States, and then NATO. Putin and Xi could then rule a world, void of freedom. "Might equals right", would be the new world motto.

Is there anyone or anything who could defuse this most dangerous scenario? Actually, there is. China. Xi needs to have a heart to heart with his fellow Commie. Tell him he either stands down, or he will have to deal with China as well as NATO. Xi would tell Putin this is no way to win the hearts and souls of those you would like to govern. Those you would like to do business with. Destroying a country, like he has done to Ukraine, makes for a lousy business relationship. In the eyes of Xi, business relationships are the end game - not pounding other countries into dust. 

Are we on thin ice right now? I think we are. Until something happens which is a game changer in Russia and/or Ukraine, we will remain on thin ice.