Dori: Congressman talks ‘war game’ simulations, nuclear threat from Russia

No-fly zones, artificial intelligence “war games,” the threat of Russian nuclear attacks, and Vladimir Putin’s sanity.

All were on the table when Washington state Congressman Adam Smith (D-9th District) came on The Dori Monson Show to talk about the balancing act the United States faces as Ukraine continues to push for support against the onslaught it is facing from Russia.

Rep. Smith, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, detailed some of the heat he took at a weekend rally of Ukrainian-Americans.

Understandably, Smith told Dori, “If you are Ukrainian, you want the full force of the U.S. and NATO to come in and take out Russia.”

“But we are going to do everything we possibly can – short of anything leading to direct war with Russia,” the congressman continued. “That is the balance we are trying to strike.”

Much of the pushback Smith heard over the weekend was about whether the United States should help the Ukrainians enforce a no-fly zone over their country.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand what a no-fly zone is,” Smith said. “Theoretically, it means nobody is going to be allowed to fly. If everybody agreed to that, it would be fine – but the Russians are not going to agree to that.”

If the United States were to help enforce a no-fly zone, he continued, “we would have to shoot down Russian jets, planes, and missiles – and while we’re up there enforcing that, they are going to be shooting at us. … It would definitely bring us into direct conflict with the Russian military.”

“What’s in it for Putin?” Dori asked. “When he could just enjoy being a billionaire with super-models and celebrities, why expose his country and people to such broad resistance and heavy sanctions from the European Union and others in the West?”

“Has Putin lost his mind?” Dori wanted to know.

“I see no evidence of that,” Smith responded. Instead, Smith says Putin’s actions are “perfectly consistent with the bully-tyrant that he is.”

Russian history shows that its leaders are judged by whether they expand their country or shrink it, Smith explained.

“[Putin] wants to be the guy who made Russia great again,” Smith said. “He’s focused on his legacy as the leader of Russia more than leading the good life.”

Smith was equally candid about how the Armed Services Committee uses computerized artificial intelligence simulations that produce “war games” scenarios, and whether congressional leaders are placing any odds on the risk that Putin will resort to nuclear weapons.

Hear more of Dori’s entire interview with U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Issaquah):

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.