News Round-Up
8 May 2024
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Until recently, almost all the U.S. politicians who'd expressed scepticism about the West's Ukraine policy were Republicans. Now 30 left-wing Democrats have written to Biden, calling for "vigorous diplomatic efforts".
Both the president and former CIA director have warned of the risk of a Russian nuclear strike. But many analysts say Putin would have nothing to gain by launching one. Could there be another motive for the warnings?
In 2018, Congress banned the Azov Battalion from receiving military aid, due to concerns about neo-Nazism. This year, Azov veterans were welcomed into the halls of Congress. The event went almost entirely unreported.
How likely is it that Russia will use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine? Not very likely, says Ian Rons, who can envisage only negative consequences for Putin if he goes nuclear.
In a recent article, the physicist and 'existential risk expert' Max Tegmark claims there's a 1 in 6 chance of nuclear war. He argues that de-escalation is in the "national security interest of all nations".
A recent poll asked Americans what is the most important issue facing the country. "Inflation" was the top answer, chosen by 27% of respondents. "Russia/Ukraine" came second to last, chosen by only 2% of respondents.
The German magazine Der Spiegel has reported that, earlier this year, the CIA warned Germany about a possible Ukrainian attack on the Nord Stream pipelines. The warning was based on intercepted Russian communications.
Who sabotaged the Nord Stream pipelines? There are four prime suspects: Russia, the U.S., Poland and Ukraine. We consider the evidence for and against each country having done it.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has lifted the fracking ban, arguing that tolerating the risks associated with it is now in the national interest, given the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
It's unclear exactly how many casualties Russia has suffered in Ukraine. But a reasonable estimate is about 78,000 (dead plus wounded), which would equate to more than one third of its initial strength.
© Skeptics Ltd.