These are scary times: COVID, (now pushing close to a million deaths in the U.S.) and the war in the Ukraine. The stock market is taking a hit, gas prices are going up on top of inflation. The middle class is suffering in America as the cost of living increases. Here in Jacksonville, housing prices have gone through the roof, with many families being priced out of their homes. What’s happening on the other side of the world makes my own complaints seem trifling.

The war in the Ukraine presents a dire threat far beyond pain at the pump. Women and children are already dying under Russian missile barrages, as Putin seems to be widening the scope of his attack.

The Ukrainian defense has been nothing short of astonishing. Citizens stealing enemy armor, drones taking out supply depots, soldiers willing to tell a warship to “go fuck themselves” in the face of certain death. It’s amazing and heroic to watch from the warm safety of my desk.

The sanctions applied to Russia are severe enough to enrage a dictator used to having his own way in all things. I wonder if Putin has not become slightly insane in the way of dictators past, who are unable to believe in their fallibility. Surrounded by yes-men who fear for their lives should they disagree, leaders like Putin lose sight of reality.

Like a mental patient who is confronted with a reality they are unable to cope with, he may act out. Unfortunately, he’s got nuclear weapons, and at the moment his deterrent is on high alert.

It’s my fear that Putin, under pressure from his oligarch buddies, and having his manhood checked by badass Ukrainian fighters, resorts to the use of nuclear weapons, if for no other reason than to show what a big tough guy he is. He’d argue that it was for tactical purposes. But really, he’d be the short fat guy in the huge truck, “overcompensating” with a big bomb.

I hope that doesn’t happen, but if it does, NATO is going to be faced with some very hard choices, none of which are good. I grew up recalling the fear of a global nuclear war and what it might look like.

So… if you haven’t read it yet, please read my trilogy!