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...going on between two nuclear powers. It seems like this is a much bigger deal than the current level of our domestic press's attention is giving it. Though it's probably a good thing it isn't getting wall-to-wall Fox coverage as that could get our President involved in a frightening way.

We're in a particularly bad "there's too much horrible news" cycle this week.

Yes, but it doesn’t even involve a few billion folks.

Source: BBC

Last week, Pakistani-based Islamic terrorists blew up a bus killing 41 Indian soldiers in the disputed territory of Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack and swore revenge. Pakistan had replied saying that India takes revenge they will retaliate. Yesterday, a group of Indian fighter jets crossed into Pakistani Airspace conducted an airstrike on the terrorist camp in Pakistani territory. This could start an Indian-Pakistani war, where both countries are nuclear powers, and it looks like they're on the verge of it happening. Pakistan shot down 2 Indian fighter jets and captured one of the pilots. India has also apparently shot down a Pakistani fighter jet.

India-Pakistan is by far the most likely scenario for a nuclear war. India has a no first-use policy, they also have a second, more concerning policy in place. They reserve the right to respond to any terrorist attack with a massive ground invasion. This is the stated policy off the Indian military according to the Googles.

Now, on the other hand, Pakistan reserves the right to use tactical nuclear force against invading armies because it lacks the territory required for strategic depth. They can't absorb an invasion like the US, Russia, or China can. Once that tactical nuke flies, all bets are off. So, India wouldn't necessarily have to launch anything to prompt Pakistan to fire away, just invade with a real army... which they have promised to do if they experience any more major terrorist attacks from Pakistani sources... like the one that just happened.

Hopefully it's still unlikely, and cooler heads look like they're going to prevail, but ultimately if a non-state actor decides to bomb Mumbai right now I will be very nervous.

- Doc

EAllusion wrote:There's a small scale shooting war...going on between two nuclear powers.

And you know this. . . how, exactly?

Dr. Shades wrote:

EAllusion wrote:There's a small scale shooting war...going on between two nuclear powers.

And you know this. . . how, exactly?

Widely reported international news with multiple sources, video, and pictures that I choose to assume my audience is aware of?

Wow, what a world we live in. Thanks to iphones we get this kind of footage:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout ... ing_taken/

This is the actual pilot after having been shot down, moments later, getting beaten and, in fact, the Pakistani security forces are saving his ass.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the information availability we have in this day and age. It's incredible.

- Doc

EAllusion wrote:Though it's probably a good thing it isn't getting wall-to-wall Fox coverage as that could get our President involved in a frightening way.

Yup. In the past we could expect some leadership from presidents like Bush or Obama to strategically help the two sides to ratchet things down, but not with Trump in charge.

Themis wrote:

EAllusion wrote:Though it's probably a good thing it isn't getting wall-to-wall Fox coverage as that could get our President involved in a frightening way.

Yup. In the past we could expect some leadership from presidents like Bush or Obama to strategically help the two sides to ratchet things down, but not with Trump in charge.

Heck, we probably won’t even get to sell them replacement hardware, now that the combatants have cut back on military equipment purchases from the US. So much for MAGA.