White House to brief lawmakers on 'serious national security threat' related to Russia
NBCFeb 15
Russia Developing Space-Based Nuclear Weapon, US Sources Say
The Facts
Russia is said to be developing a nuclear weapon aimed at destroying satellites in space, according to US sources who spoke to several publications late on Wednesday.
The reports came after Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH), chair of the House Intelligence Committee, issued an unspecified warning of a "serious national security threat" facing the US, urging Pres. Joe Biden to declassify the intelligence to facilitate "the actions necessary to respond."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While this weapon is not yet operational, it is a serious potential threat facing the US. Satellites are a critical component of America's civilian communications and navigation networks, as well as its military and intelligence-collecting capabilities. This danger has to be addressed.
Pro-Russia narrative
This is yet another example of US officials using malicious tactics to hype up a threat so as to get exorbitant spending packages approved, in this case, to approve a further $60B of weapons for Ukraine. Moscow is no stranger to the games that Washington plays.
Nerd narrative
There's a 24% chance that a nuclear weapon will be detonated as an act of war by 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.