Russian Nuclear Exercise
Nuclear war with Russia ‘could break out as early as next year’ in a frightening scenario outlined by a former British NATO General.
Richard Shirreff, NATO ‘s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe
from 2011-2014, is being slammed by the Government as “irresponsible”
over his warning.
His book “2017: War With Russia” – which describes how a supposedly ‘fictional’ conflict could play out in reality – has already become a best-seller since its release last week.
It is subtitled: “An urgent warning by senior military command”.
Its release comes as ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev expresses fears the Russia-Ukraine conflict “could bring the world to the brink of a major disaster”.
Britain’s former top Nato commander General Sir Richard Shirreff says Cameron is an irrelevance on Ukraine. Pictured – David Cameron with Richard Shirreff at Basrah Air Station in southern Iraq PA
General Sir Richard Shirreff with PM David Cameron in Basrah, Iraq
The doomsday scenario Shirreff sets out is grim – it is set just one year in the future and Russia has just invaded the Baltic States… and the ‘nuclear deterrence’ our leaders put their faith in fails to save us.
Intended as a chilling vision of ‘where we are heading if we fail to recognise the threat posed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin’, the conflict escalates to an all out war between Nato and Russia, with bloody and appalling consequences.
Shirreff says in interviews he is worried NATO is becoming impotent and he is hoping his new book will act a deterrent and force the alliance to boost its defences in the Baltic states.
He has also warned that it is “questionable” whether the UK could still defend itself due to defence cuts.
Shirreff appears to be formulating a new career based on warning the world of the dangers of not standing up to Russia.
He played himself in a BBC mockumentary in February – World War Three: Inside the War Room – where 10 military and diplomatic figures pondered aloud how to respond to a hypothetical situation where Russia’s just invaded Latvia.
His new book has been slammed by unimpressed British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond who said: “I’ve no doubt that he has got a large mortgage to pay, but he was a senior NATO commander and this is quite irresponsible language.”
“I don’t think that there is anybody serious around who thinks the kind of scenario he is postulating is remotely likely.”
But another influential figure who is also voicing concerns this week is ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He fears the worse unless the West starts communicating better with Putin.
He warns that the leading global powers need to learn to cooperate if they are to solve all the problems facing mankind – or fail.
“Everything I see happening causes me immense pain. The stakes are too high, the risks and dangers too great,” he cautions in his new book The New Russia, released on Friday.
“The foreign ‘players’ have much to answer for over their behaviour at every stage of the Ukrainian crisis. The country has been tested to destruction and now it is time for some constructive help.”
Also urging Ukraine to mend its relations with Russia, he cautions: “The mutual recrimination, the hostility, the bloodshed, that is going to be extremely difficult.
“We should have no illusions but at the same time, there is no alternative. We have to get on with it.”
Calling for an end to sanctions, the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union until 1991 says Obama and the West’s reaction to the crisis has been reminiscent of the Cold War Era.
He adds: “It is time (the West’s) leaders stopped trying to draw Ukraine into NATO.”
“The Ukrainian crisis has provoked a serious and dangerous deterioration of relations between Russia and the West. ”
“Instead of leading change in a globalised world, Europe has become an arena of political upheavals, rivalry for spheres of influence and, finally, military conflict.
“The inevitable consequence is a weakening of Europe in the face of a rapid rise of other centres of power and influence. Europe is losing its distinctive voice in world affairs.”
His book “2017: War With Russia” – which describes how a supposedly ‘fictional’ conflict could play out in reality – has already become a best-seller since its release last week.
It is subtitled: “An urgent warning by senior military command”.
Its release comes as ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev expresses fears the Russia-Ukraine conflict “could bring the world to the brink of a major disaster”.
Britain’s former top Nato commander General Sir Richard Shirreff says Cameron is an irrelevance on Ukraine. Pictured – David Cameron with Richard Shirreff at Basrah Air Station in southern Iraq PA
General Sir Richard Shirreff with PM David Cameron in Basrah, Iraq
The doomsday scenario Shirreff sets out is grim – it is set just one year in the future and Russia has just invaded the Baltic States… and the ‘nuclear deterrence’ our leaders put their faith in fails to save us.
Intended as a chilling vision of ‘where we are heading if we fail to recognise the threat posed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin’, the conflict escalates to an all out war between Nato and Russia, with bloody and appalling consequences.
Shirreff says in interviews he is worried NATO is becoming impotent and he is hoping his new book will act a deterrent and force the alliance to boost its defences in the Baltic states.
He has also warned that it is “questionable” whether the UK could still defend itself due to defence cuts.
Shirreff appears to be formulating a new career based on warning the world of the dangers of not standing up to Russia.
He played himself in a BBC mockumentary in February – World War Three: Inside the War Room – where 10 military and diplomatic figures pondered aloud how to respond to a hypothetical situation where Russia’s just invaded Latvia.
His new book has been slammed by unimpressed British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond who said: “I’ve no doubt that he has got a large mortgage to pay, but he was a senior NATO commander and this is quite irresponsible language.”
“I don’t think that there is anybody serious around who thinks the kind of scenario he is postulating is remotely likely.”
But another influential figure who is also voicing concerns this week is ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He fears the worse unless the West starts communicating better with Putin.
He warns that the leading global powers need to learn to cooperate if they are to solve all the problems facing mankind – or fail.
“Everything I see happening causes me immense pain. The stakes are too high, the risks and dangers too great,” he cautions in his new book The New Russia, released on Friday.
“The foreign ‘players’ have much to answer for over their behaviour at every stage of the Ukrainian crisis. The country has been tested to destruction and now it is time for some constructive help.”
Also urging Ukraine to mend its relations with Russia, he cautions: “The mutual recrimination, the hostility, the bloodshed, that is going to be extremely difficult.
“We should have no illusions but at the same time, there is no alternative. We have to get on with it.”
Calling for an end to sanctions, the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union until 1991 says Obama and the West’s reaction to the crisis has been reminiscent of the Cold War Era.
He adds: “It is time (the West’s) leaders stopped trying to draw Ukraine into NATO.”
“The Ukrainian crisis has provoked a serious and dangerous deterioration of relations between Russia and the West. ”
“Instead of leading change in a globalised world, Europe has become an arena of political upheavals, rivalry for spheres of influence and, finally, military conflict.
“The inevitable consequence is a weakening of Europe in the face of a rapid rise of other centres of power and influence. Europe is losing its distinctive voice in world affairs.”
