Its a colossal bluff. If Putin launches a nuke at NATO for instance, NATO will retaliate massively, and Putin is DEAD 15 minutes later. Since the most important thing in the world to Mr Putin, IS Mr Putin, he won't ever do it. He is trying to scare his opponents into submission. Once he fails, I think some internal component in Russia is going to take him out. The Russian people don't want or need this shit, like anyone else. The world has changed, and NONE of these outmoded leaders realize it.