Dear Friends,
For twenty-five years, I devoted myself to arms control and international security with a specialty on the Soviet Union and new Russia. I spent considerable time thinking about the worst-case scenario: a security failure that could mean nuclear weapons are launched intentionally or accidentally. Like us, our Russian counterparts had the same obligation to think “outside the box,” assess the steps that might lead to “strategic instability” and suggest ways to mitigate it. The value of these “second track” or “back channel” lines of communication was that they gave both governments ideas about what could be done to reduce the potential for catastrophic miscalculations. In the context of our current crisis, the potential for a nuclear showdown keeps me awake at night and remains with me even in my sleep.
The world is weary from a nearly three-year pandemic, yet we are compelled now to think again about what could go fatally wrong, this time in the national security realm. I am among those who are appalled by Russia’s illegal, immoral invasion of Ukraine, and I am inspired by the courage of the Ukrainian people. I also support targeted sanctions on Russia. The longer view, however, requires a closer look at several unthinkable things that we might find ourselves facing.
Of real urgency is the fact that we are seeing a more determined Vladimir Putin, the Russians continue to advance to Ukraine’s capital, and their president is running out of options. In that regard, the West has made it plain that while we will not put boots on the ground in Ukraine, we will wage “economic war” on Russia instead.
As a contingency planner, I believe we must understand the potential dangers this crisis implies. The most likely by-product of cutting ties with a major supplier of global commodities suggests that we are bound to experience rising inflation and a deepening supply chain problem. Throttling another major power’s economy may mean their only defense is offense, leading to cyber-attacks and other weapons of disruption. We should also be prepared for the potential of terrorist attacks, generated by the sense that America is occupied solely with this crisis. The catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan could inspire such revenge, perhaps. Millions of people there have been left destitute by the precipitous departure of the United States and our allies.
Given the heft of the international sanctions imposed on Russia, some people are predicting that its economy will ultimately collapse. Should chaos and calamity ensue inside Russia we will, once again, worry about the fate of their nuclear materials and the potential for “loose nukes,” as well as the possible sale of nuclear know-how to other adversarial countries. We made enormous progress on these concerns after the end of the Soviet Union with the cooperation of new Russia. Given the current crisis, this option is not available to us today.
We might also see some worrying developments regarding China’s eye on a resource-rich space they have long coveted—the Russian Far East, a land abundant in energy and mineral resources. Beijing’s interest in this region has long been known to the Russian side.
Finally, regarding a nuclear confrontation. Might this be the last resort for a disturbed, unstable autocrat who sees his world disintegrating in some final and ignoble way? Many people have not been schooled to imagine the scenario of a nuclear war—it is literally unimaginable. There are ways to escalate a crisis to the “shock and awe” of limited use. But if all things fail, it ends with the annihilation of both our countries and the rest of the world. That’s why, collectively, we have responsibilities to search for ways to deconflict this current crisis before it becomes primarily a confrontation between two nuclear superpowers.
Nuclear confrontation is not an irrational worry. Nuclear matters are more complex and considerably more dangerous than they were during the Cuban Missile Crisis and other showdowns. Please take the time to listen to Senator Sam Nunn’s excellent interview on Georgia Public Radio on this topic. As one of our country’s leading voices on nuclear matters, he notes that cyber hacks, indeed escalating cyber attacks and their potential connection to nuclear capability and command and control, make the possibility of a nuclear miscalculation a very real concern.
We are not at the brink yet. But the risk of getting there is very real. Urgent thinking is required to get ahead of the “law of unintended consequences.” Only a very few experts predicted the end of the Soviet Union or the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis. I agree with Washington Post columnist, David Ignatius, in his column on March 2. We must consider looking for an “off-ramp.” Might a highly respected retired stateswoman like Angela Merkel play a role here?
We must also assure that we have enough official and semi-official contacts between our countries that can be used as “back channels” in case we find ourselves in a Cuban Missile Crisis-type scenario. The United States and Russia, in tit-for-tat disagreements, emptied out their embassies and consulates well before this immediate crisis. More recently, personnel in the US Embassy in Ukraine were sent home on February 14. Contacts in the Federal government between US officials and their Russian counterparts have also been drastically curtailed over the years, and “second track” bi-lateral security forums are also all but gone. During the crisis in Cuba in 1962, relationships developed through such channels played a critical role in finding a resolution to the confrontation before it “went nuclear.”
As we understood then, interacting with counterparts in an adversarial country is not a sign of approval or weakness; it is a pragmatic way to widen understanding of the other side’s mood and how far they might go. It could alert us if there is a miscalculation or an intentional move toward a Doomsday end game. It is urgent that we find a way to deconflict the current crisis, starting with a ceasefire. We must also gain Russian assurances, if possible, that any nuclear option is off the table.
The worrying voices in the heads of those who cannot sleep at night are getting louder. We must think about these scenarios in the cold light of day and at the very least reinstitute a process to fortify and expand key contacts with the other side. It is an “all hands on deck” imperative to avoid a widening of the war and an eventual showdown that could become potentially catastrophic.
With best wishes,
Susan
PS. A week ago, I thought my letter to you this week would be about the last 30 years, as I planned to offer context for this crisis and some thoughts about the lessons we could learn from those three decades. But unfolding events have made me realize now that we are beyond the point where the past is likely to influence the short-term crisis. There will be time for evaluations later.
SusanEisenhower 
Shouldn’t this be an opinion piece in the Post or Times?
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I’ve been an agnostic registered Independent all my adult life though I’ve never voted for an independent party candidate; I don’t do parties. I’m an unapologetic Appalachian American who has shed blood in uniform for our country on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Like most of you, I am deeply concerned with the prevailing Putin piracy and what it potentially portends as so splendidly detailed above by Susan. I want … results … not yet more politiklan palaver.
After all the partisan emotionalism is spent there remains a pregnant reason Putin didn’t try this during Trump’s administration, a reason profoundly uncluttered by the equivocality now being slung at it by Biden apologists:
Like Putin, Trump is a no-excuses, unconfused patriot not reeking of overpriced political correctness perfume. Like Trump, Putin is a pragmatist not a politician, a ‘results-not-reasons’ kinda guy. Both respect each other for this and for one more paramount quality. BOTH men are ruthless … deal-makers. All they care about is achieving their goals whatever they must do to accomplish same. And they both know it about each other.
Susan is of course eruditely correct: we DO now desperately need a skilled, back-channel voice … but it is not the PC-conventional Angela Merkel. It is the consummate throat-cutting deal-maker … Donald Trump.
Generally, your Post’s are very timely and good. NOT THIS ONE
This one is EXCELLENT and highlights our deep concerns ( not that I needed to be even more concerned) Thanks and let’s all hope and pray for a good outcome, going forward.
Robert Hanfling Mobile – 303 941-9582
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Yes
Robert Hanfling Mobile – 303 941-9582
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Jaw, Jaw,Jaw is always infinitely better than War, War,War . Thank you very much for this excellent and important post!
BRAVO to ALL thoughtfully compiled posts
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All of this Russian genocide (sadly/euphemistically dressed up as ‘adventurism’), coupled with concurrent, watch-the-hidden-hand Sino threatened action,
punches great big holes within economist Friedman’s World Is Flat treatise a decade plus back…….Namely his confidently positing that the present economic inter-dependent-ness between & amongst nations with various/disparate philosophical agendas with keep the peace AND prevent war due to ancillary costs of disrupting status quo.
Arguable sidebar note re Pres. Jos. R. Biden: Only a radical departure from current pro-death domestic policies—decidedly morphing into pro-(sanctity)-of-LIFE policies writ large—will we see an indirect shake-out + enhanced, light-shining moral credibility emanating once more from the Patomic region’s ruling class……..Other nations would justifiably shudder at the implicit magnitude of such a courageous stake in the future of HUMANITY!
(positive ‘cascades-for-good’ can commence @ some of the most surprising & unlikely of ways)
–JMcH–
*will keep the peace….
BRAVO to ALL thoughtfully compiled posts
+
All of this Russian genocide (sadly/euphemistically dressed up as ‘adventurism’), coupled with concurrent, watch-the-hidden-hand Sino threatened action,
punches great big holes within economist Friedman’s World Is Flat treatise a decade plus back…….Namely his confidently positing that the present economic inter-dependent-ness between & amongst nations with various/disparate philosophical agendas will keep the peace AND prevent war due to ancillary costs of disrupting status quo.
Arguable sidebar note re Pres. Jos. R. Biden: Only a radical departure from current pro-death domestic policies—decidedly morphing into pro-(sanctity)-of-LIFE policies writ large—will we see an indirect shake-out + enhanced, light-shining moral credibility emanating once more from the Patomic region’s ruling class……..Other nations would justifiably shudder at the implicit magnitude of such a courageous stake in the future of HUMANITY!
(positive ‘cascades-for-good’ can commence @ some of the most surprising & unlikely of ways)
–JMcH–
Not only should this piece be in the NYT or Washington Post, it should be read by the highest levels of NATO and the US as they try to decide on the next steps. Thanks Susan
As I urged the White House already in 2015 and in resending the same letter last week, the one person uniquely qualified to take on this “back channels” task is Susan Eisenhower. Having myself witnessed at close range more than a dozen nuclear and thermonuclear explosions in the Bikini-Eniwetok proving grounds as a Navy ensign more than sixty years ago, may I now urge that someone with far more heft than I take up this crucial appointment with the White House.
As I urged the White House already in 2015 and again in resending that letter last week, the one person uniquely qualified “to mediate the Ukrainian stand-off and establish a long-term framework for U.S. Russian amity is Susan Eisenhower.” Having myself witnessed at close range more than a dozen nuclear and thermonuclear explosions in the Bikini-Eniwetok proving grounds as a Navy ensign more than sixty years ago, may I now urge those with far more heft than I to take up this crucial appointment with the White House.
Very interesting paper. The situation is complicated and the ending is not obvious. The question arises: should those Russians (еspecially emigrants) who do not support their government and did not vote for Russian ruling elite be subject to collective punishment?
I’d like to see a delegation of non-politicized people who understand Russian history, Vladimir Putin, that neck of the woods in general, AND global economics. Obviously such a delegation is likely to come from outside the belt and mainstream media. What’s the chance of that?
Congratulations for the good job on enlighten us. Would it be possible for dear Susan Eisenhower be speaker through zoom or similar, please?
We are 20 person living in one Atlantic country writing a book. Every month we invite what we call a TEAMNEURSHIP SPEAKER to make a 10 minutes presentation plus conversation with us.
Please, contact me through marco.abrunhosa@kymenlaaksoiicouncil.org so we can share more info.
Hi Susan,
In this vein,
I propose starting an open chain letter on facebook and other social media just asking Mr. Putiin to stop the
killing of innocents. Period. There was no immediate threat to his nation or any other so let us all take a breather and revisit some peaceful solutions,
Certainly the West, for what ever reason, has exercised enough restraint to prove there is room for peace.
Some assistance drafting the letter would be appreciated. In today’s overheated media world, it may gain some traction. Then the above cadre can go to work.
You are right as always. We must avoid nuclear war. We should listen to you and to Ted Postol and Ernest Moniz of MIT.
It would be nice if your postings were available as videos on YouTube.
NATO should declare that Russia will join NATO before Ukraine and Georgia do.
As an average person and citizen of the United States, it is my hope and my expectation that the US and Russia are having secret talks right now to deescalate the situation and bring a more swift end to the death, destruction, and suffering of the Ukrainian people and to not dance so close to the nuclear cliff. Our government better have already reached out to and be talking to Russia right now. I expect my government to make reasonable concessions and for Russia to make reasonable concessions.