U.S. intelligence officials said on March 8 that they’re taking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats seriously. “It was very unusual. And we obviously take it very seriously when he’s signaling in this way,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the House Intelligence Committee in Washington. Putin placed his nuclear forces on high alert in February. The United States has not responded beyond delaying a test launch in a bid to lower tensions. Such a public announcement hasn’t been seen since the 1960s, according to Haines, describing Putin as “posturing” with the goal of deterring further Western support for Ukraine. While Russian troops have been met with stiffer resistance than projected, “Putin probably still remains confident that Russia can militarily defeat Ukraine and wants to prevent Western support from tipping the balance and forcing a conflict with NATO,” Haines said. Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), the top Republican on the panel, later asked Haines …