PUTIN'S NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS CLAIM: A CRY FOR ATTENTION.

ICHEOKU says for a man who is standing for election to another term in office as president of the Russia Federation, the sixth term that is; he cannot but make the deprived and denied beleaguered Russians, believe that he is their protector, the brave heart Tsar who is standing firm against Western aggression and will protect them from the bogeyman Yankees, the Americans and their Western cohorts. 

So understandably, his orchestrated show and blistering boast of Russia's most advanced, most lethal, range unlimited, undetectable missile and nuclear weaponry should not an unexpected surprise. It was a show simply staged for the local Russian audience, a campaign ploy for the sham election slated for March 18, 2018. An election with a predetermined outcome, which will be a mere formality and which will see him robotically "reelected" president for a fourth six-year term; a position which he has, directly and indirectly, continuously held since coming to power in 1999. 

What an emerging dictator who has reduced Russia into a banana republic where only little him holds sway and calls all the shots. After all this 18 years in office, his legacy remains a country in want, with such poverty rate, growing alcoholism, hunger, diseases and unemployment which will make some third world countries beat their chests in triumph. ICHEOKU says what would the founding fathers of the Russian Perestroika and Glasnost say today, seeing their Russia dream reduced into a one man dictatorship under the color of democratic elections which merely rubber-stamps his presidency. 


So ICHEOKU is not surprised when Vladimir Putin spends the Russian money in weapons development instead of building up the country's economic base as well as investing in science and technology. His gamble seems to be that since he cannot deliver the goodies to the people of Russia, he might as well confuse them by pretending to be defending them from the America led West and developing weapons to back up his claim. Just listen to him: "we need to ensure we have a credible nuclear deterrent and we are confident that we are prepared to defend this nation no matter what." 

Imagine the economic rejuvenation Russian could have undergone were Putin to redirect the money spent on weapons into productive enterprises that will provide jobs for the millions of unemployed Russians and take care of the millions of homeless and needy Russians. But good enough, America has already made it clear to Putin that Russia would face "unacceptably dire costs" if it ever threaten even a limited nuclear attack anywhere in Europe, talkless of in America proper. 

While delivering his two hour boring and excessively lengthy State of Russia address, Tsar Vladimir Putin enumerated the new weapons his dear mother Russia allegedly now possesses. It includes a nuclear-powered cruise missile, a nuclear-powered underwater drone and new hypersonic missile that "have no equivalent elsewhere in the world. He also boasted that with the invention of the new weapons, America led NATO’s missile shield system has been rendered "useless’’ and that it also means an end to Western efforts to frustrate Russia’s development. Listen to him again: ‘‘I want to tell all those who have fueled the arms race over the last 15 years, sought to win unilateral advantages over Russia, introduced unlawful sanctions aimed to contain our country’s development: all what you wanted to impede with your policies have already happened, You have failed to contain Russia." 

ICHEOKU says if indeed they have failed to contain Russia as boasted, where has Russia gone or achieved ever since. Just a guy with power pandering to his impoverished and emasculated Russian people for their votes in the coming presidential election. ICHEOKU says a typical outburst of a man feeling encircled, out flanked and out maneuvered by a superior power, the one and only super power left in the world. So he has to do something, kicking and flailing, to register his presence and to say just in case you have forgotten, I am still here. A lengthy 18 years in office and counting, as Russia's only good enough person to be president. 

ICHEOKU says but with America's missile interceptors in Alaska and Hawaii; and the Aegis and Thaad installations in Asia and Europe; as well as the recently installed ones in in Romania and Poland, it is obvious that a boxed in Putin will lash out and grunt as the weight of his encirclement gets heavier, leaving him increasingly isolated and suffocating. However, America is not moved nor intimidated by his latest theatrics as America has seen many other despots come and go; and so will Vladimir Putin someday become a statistics. He will not be the first to lash out and will be dealt with if it gets to that. Saddam Hussein once boasted about a mother of all wars but where is he today? Hitler also once was. How any rational person would remain in power for 18 long years and still seeking an elongation of term is simply inexplicable; or is he telling the world that Russia has not benefited from his long stay in power by him having nurtured another qualified person to lead Russia. 

“I hope everything that has been said today will sober any potential aggressor. You will have to assess that new reality and become convinced that what I said today isn't a bluff. It's not a bluff, trust me." ICHEOKU says exactly how you know that Putin was bluffing because he said to "trust him that he was not bluffing"; which is atypical of people who are either not telling the truth or are exaggerating their tale. Further, he eventually revealed his real motive behind his tall tale when he said that no one listens to Russia anymore and that Russia should be listened to; which is yet another evidence that he was simply bluffing and seeking attention and to be once again considered relevant in the affairs of the world. Ever seen a rich person pounding his or her chest and screaming look at me, I am rich? No, only he who has not got it makes noise about having got it. If you have something really big, you will want to let the really big thing do the talking, but definitely not you. 

ICHEOKU agrees with one commentator that Putin's announcement reflects Russia's concern that America's missile defense shield could develop to the extent that it could make America air defenses impenetrable and thus become a game-changer in the battle to control the narrative in world affairs. 

Again listen to him: "No one in the world has anything like that. It may appear someday, but by that time we will develop something new." ICHEOKU says a man who speaks of what he has no knowledge of and so boastfully, claiming that no other country has anything like what he just announced Russia has, cannot be taken seriously. How did he know what other countries have or do not have? As always, the empty barrel makes the most sound and it goes without saying that if Vladimir Putin has it, he will not be talking so braggingly about what he supposedly have. ICHEOKU says whether it is Avangard or Sarmat or Kinzhal or whatever other nomenclature used to depict any other weapon, it does not matter if those weapons are not able or allowed to lift off from their silos. In the event they do, they will be forced to malfunction or blown away mid flight, if push ever come to shove. 

Further, Vladimir Putin said, "We will interpret any use of nuclear weapons against Russia and its allies no matter how powerful they are, of low, medium or any other yield, as a nuclear attack. It will trigger an immediate answer with all the consequences stemming from it. No one should have any doubts about it." ICHEOKU says another bluster, otherwise why did Putin not mention those allies of Russia within his purview, begging the question, does Russia and Putin even have any allies? 

Lastly, on Putin's blabber that Russia is not threatening anyone, is not going to attack anyone, and is not going to take anything from anyone"; ICHEOKU says how about Ukraine and Georgia whose territories in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine as well as Ossetia and Abkhazia has been forcefully seized by Putin's Russia. 

Anyway, despots are always clever by half; but Tsar Vladimir Putin dealt his hand very early and the world is watching him closely and will checkmate him immediately if he miscalculates. ICHEOKU says if Putin is the only "qualified strong man" to lead Russia, what happens in the inevitable event of his mortality. ICHEOKU is not a fan of dictators and urge Putin to actually start helping Russia by helping build its political democracy towards grooming future leaders of Russia who will step in and fill the vacuum his overstay in office has created. That will be a provable achievement and not building weapons he can NEVER used nor dare drop anywhere without obliterating consequence. Russians, ICHEOKU says to declare your independence and look somewhere else for a new leader.