While it is a legitimate question how well maintained and operational their nukes are given how halfassed literally everything else about them is, it is worth assuming they work as advertised. They seem to have invested in their nuke program significantly since it is the only think keeping them in the geopolitical power they think they deserve. And even if half their nukes are duds, it doesn’t make a shit with regard to strategy. They have more than enough to trigger MAD
I think it is hard for us to grasp the mindset since we are fortunate to live in a place that never gets invaded due to geographical and other reasons. Try to picture Mexico being far more powerful than the USA and they invade us and start shelling Austin, SA, Dallas, and Houston. Would you be motivated to fight them and risk your life?
Sum of All Fears had a disclaimer that his detailed explanations of the inner workings of a nuclear weapon were intentionally wrong for obvious reasons. I’m sure the government was involved in that one. I think it was probably a give and take relationship for him and the govt/ military. They gave him access and insight, he let them edit things that were too sensitive, and the military got books that people loved and made them look like badasses. Good propaganda.
I really doubt Putin wants to kill him. He would far prefer he run and Putin can install a puppet because their president abandoned Ukraine to save himself. He would make much more of a difference to the Ukrainian cause being a martyr that Putin had murdered than a president in exile that ran to safety
This right here. Lt. Colonel is the default terminal rank for career officers that never make the cut to advance. Basically middle management. There are a million of them.