I wonder whether Biden coming out and admitting that the Russian hypersonic missile “is a consequential missile” that can penetrate any US/Nato air defense system, when paired with the realization happening right now in the cold light of day that the damage inflicted by sanctions is a two way street - together - signal a potential change in the US/EU calculus with respect to either fanning or dousing the flames of war.
It’s highly unusual for a US president to puncture the narrative infinitum that Russians are technologically backward. This comes with yet other stupid bon mots like “their missiles have probably fallen into disrepair”, they'll use chemical weapons on civilians. To say what Biden said is rather profound narrative breach at a time when the incentive is highest to project Russia as weak and ineffectual.
Biden acknowledges that Russia’s hypersonic missile is simply unstoppable.
— Sentletse 🇷🇺🇿🇦 (@Sentletse) March 22, 2022
It is, “a consequential missile,” he says. pic.twitter.com/7NkAkGJj2c
The hypersonics don’t show desperation, they show a degree of escalation
dominance outside the use of nuclear weapons. If reports are true, the
Kinzhal struck a Soviet nuclear bunker and was able to ignite the
ammunition stores inside it.
If other reports are true, Russia demonstrated that it can erase the
Pentagon without going nuclear and not only is there no defense, but
there’s a good chance there will be no warning. The time from over the
horizon identification to impact may be as short
as 3 seconds.
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