I read that piece referenced in the OP and highlighted one of many times he mentioned the risk. I'm certainly hopeful there's contingency planning going on but given Putin's threats, I think he would act with tactical nukes if we did that because I judge him to be acting like a cornered rat now who would feel compelled to act on his threats.
But I did find Malinowski's analysis to be logical and carefully thought out and appreciate his sense of how risky things are and how we need to look at the situation with fresh eyes.
Malinowski: Imagine Kyiv is totally surrounded in the coming days and weeks. Right now, we’re getting supplies in and out, food, ammunition, everything else. But if it’s completely blockaded, do we launch something like the [1948] Berlin airlift, where American military aircraft are flying in supplies to the people who are defending that city? It would be consistent with Biden’s policy. It wouldn't be shooting at the Russians, it would be daring them to shoot at us, though, and of course it would be very, very risky.
