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On the Russian attitude to nuclear weapons

When Bush II was in the White House, he proposed to deploy ABM systems to Poland, due to growing concerns about North Korean ICBMs.

This is because ICBMs travel the Great Circle Route to their destination - the shortest distance. It’s basic mechanics.

The Russians lost their shit. Why?

Well, a missile based ABM system defends a narrow cone - long and thin, oriented along the path of the incoming missile.

The proposed American system was high performance enough that it could “fatten” the cone considerably for *missiles aimed at Poland itself*.

So, almost accidentally, Poland would become one of the first countries on Earth largely invulnerable to a nuclear missile strike from Russia.

Russian nationalists regard the right to treat the “near abroad” as inferiors. And taking away their nuclear sabre rattling for Poland would reduce them, in heir relationship with Poland to almost equals.

So Obama equivocated and Hilary talked of resets.

But the shortest route from North Korea to anywhere in the USA is along a great circle over the Arctic (well, Alaska and Canada), which doesn't go anywhere near Poland.

You can check here.

Sorry - was the Middle East threat (Iran mostly). NK was a different site.

The fact remains that the Russians regarded the loss of being able to threaten Poland as an inferior as very serious.