On Feb. 26, two days after Russia invaded Ukraine, President Joe Biden established the “Tiger Team” for the task of preparing America’s response to a possible Russian use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. On Feb. 28, national security adviser Jake Sullivan attached an auxiliary group to the Tiger Team.
Speaking to the NATO summit in Brussels nearly a month later, on Friday, March 23, Biden was asked how he would respond to Russia’s use of weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine. “The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use,” he replied. Sen, Jack Reed, Chair of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, added to this comment last Wednesday. “There would be consequences,” he said, “even if the weapon’s use was confined to Ukraine.”
At the NATO summit in Brussels, meanwhile, Sulivan put it this way: “Mr Biden will take up with allies on how to deal with the rhetoric and the commentary coming out of Russia on this whole question of the potential use of nuclear weapons.”
An unidentified senior White House official took the question up to another level. “… a small tactical nuclear bomb by Russia – even inside Ukraine and not directed at a NATO member – would mean that all bets are off.” READ MORE
