Nuclear Weapons

[Michael S. Azrael]

Is it just me or do other people think that nuclear weapon are the most idiotic thing for a nation to make?

Think about it, they cost millions of dollar and large amount of resources to make but the last time one was ever used was in 1945 and after that they have just been accumulating. Why do we need, I'm sure that money and resources could go to something of infinitely greater benefit, like nuclear power mabye.

 

[FluffyNeurosis]

The fear of mutually assured destruction helped keep the US and the USSR from starting WW3. Nuclear power rules!

 

[sms_117b]

They're good deterrents to war, and they're kind of a status symbol, like a black guy owning a lot of white stuff. Or anyone owning a multistory villa abroad.

However, the money and resources could and should be used for power, because like all the white stuff and multistory villa, they're pretty much useless.

 

[Michael S. Azrael]

Not really relevant today, the USSR has collapsed and nuclear warheads not just sit in storage collecting dust.

 

[Michael S. Azrael]

They're good deterrents to war, and they're kind of a status symbol, like a black guy owning a lot of white stuff. Or anyone owning a multistory villa abroad.

However, the money and resources could and should be used for power, because like all the white stuff and multistory villa, they're pretty much useless.

So it is really a situation of "If he has one I need one"

 

[inglioti]

i think people should fake it.

first strike capabilities are enough deterrence for attacking anyone. and i agree, too much money, international condemnation... oh well. not like anyone will eventually ever disarm.

 

[sms_117b]

They're good deterrents to war, and they're kind of a status symbol, like a black guy owning a lot of white stuff. Or anyone owning a multistory villa abroad.

However, the money and resources could and should be used for power, because like all the white stuff and multistory villa, they're pretty much useless.

So it is really a situation of "If he has one I need one"

That's a very good way of summing up, and I think so, yes. I mean India, Israel and Pakistan all have bigger problems to deal with than what requires nuclear weapons, America and other nations just have them because they can.

 

[badgersprite]

Nuclear warheads aren't a deterrent to war. The fear of countries getting nuclear weapons is the primary reason why we're still getting involved in wars today. Why do you think the USA spent the 'Cold War' invading third-world countries and installing capitalist-friendly military dictators all over the place? Because they were afraid the Soviets would point nuclear missiles at them if there was a Communist-friendly Government anywhere nearby!

Nuclear weapons are a root of the huge gap between wealthy nations and poor nations today, and the fear of them is a partial reason why so many USA-supported military dictatorships ran amok with their mass-murdering death squads in the last fifty years. (Nicaragua, anybody? Haiti?)

 

[Robby Foxfur]

its the bigger stick method that keeps us making nukes and other countries wanting nukes. and I believe one day they will lead to our doom but thats not for this topic. are they dumb? no its a time saver if you wanna look at it that way and its also a huge ratio 1 = a huge amount of damage, sure they cost a lot, so do fireworks. Lastly are they dumb? YES! Its the only man controlled force in the world that can effect everyone, it could destroy us in one minute should we ever get to that.

Its balance tho, and that's why they are both a use and a hiderance

 

[ottenni]

For the country that has them they offer far more benefits than simply blowing stuff up, primarily the fear of them.

Would the US have invaded Iraq if Iraq had been capable of hitting the US with nuclear weapons? Also consider North Korea. Are they better off or worse of since they obtained the capability to get nuclear weapons. Now everyone takes them more seriously and they have a serious bargaining chip when it comes to talks about aid.

 

[scrambledeggs]

cold war still exists today, I reckon
there's your answer.

 

[Vortigar]

cold war still exists today, I reckon
there's your answer.

Not the Cold War, but rather hundreds of little ones.

Strange as calling something like war little is.

 

[scrambledeggs]

cold war still exists today, I reckon
there's your answer.

Not the Cold War, but rather hundreds of little ones.

Strange as calling something like war little is.

Fair call.
It is true.
Although I wouldn't call it little wars.
I'd call it the second cold war.
It will be highly publicized in 20 years.
You heard it here now!

 

[Neonbob]

I see nothing wrong with nukes...they're essentially long range beating sticks, which I find hilarious.
Plus, we can't get Fallout without them.

 

[Kif]

They have a shelf life, so they don't really accumulate... they get replaced. However, your point is still valid a world without them would be better.

The likely reason they keep their supplies up, as said, is likely a deterrent. Countries without nukes are less likely to dick around with countries that have them.

Even though the notion itself breeds escalation, a country without nukes... let's say North Korea is more likely to want nukes because other countries have them.

 

[Timmareus]

If you don't happen to be a major global player already, getting nukes is the only way to get any political weight. When you got that the rest of the world can pretty much do nothing against you.

It's not exactly 'good', but politically a rather smart move to get them, as long as you can keep the UN away from your door long enough, and you can, since the UN is completely impotent.
So although it's a danger to humanity as a whole, for the individual state it is extremely beneficial to have them. And noone acts for global benefit before one's own.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Nukes pretty much are the most useless things you can acquire. They're completely unusable in any moral context but mutual attack, they have no viable non-military purpose (despite some hilariously awful attempts during the Cold War), getting them immediately places you on the hit list of all the established nuclear powers, and the more nukes there are, the greater the chance that some non-state actor will acquire them.

We can get rid of the damn things too fast, but we can't get rid of them soon enough...

 

[MGlBlaze]

Nukes pretty much are the most useless things you can acquire. They're completely unusable in any moral context but mutual attack, they have no viable non-military purpose (despite some hilariously awful attempts during the Cold War), getting them immediately places you on the hit list of all the established nuclear powers, and the more nukes there are, the greater the chance that some non-state actor will acquire them.

We can get rid of the damn things too fast, but we can't get rid of them soon enough...

Agreed. The only 'real' purpose nukes have is more of a deterrent and to serve as plot-points in general artistic or entertainment media.

Well, there's a theorised possibility for defending the earth from asteroids, but depending on the structure, their effectiveness could range from 'good' to 'you guys may as well have thrown a pebble at it'.

The only 'good' things nukes did was end world war II, and I think we can all agree that the way they ended it was far from ideal. All those lost lives and the nuclear contamination that has effects on people to this day...

Yep. Nukes were a brilliant idea, alright. /sarcasm

I understand the necessity of their creation back then, but since then, they've really caused nothing but problems and tension.

 

[Timmareus]

You don't ever aquire nukes to use them. Not even India and Pakistan. You get them so noone else will be able to use them on you, and because you cannot be ignored anymore. And, well, to be honest, the western countries are not exactly giving other nations much say in global politics, or even their own national politics. Exploiting a country or forcing them to develop in the direction you want... or even just ignoring them in all global affairs. That's enough incentive to get nukes. We'll have nukes probably until either humanity is destroyed or the world is unified under one rulership.

 

[T5seconds]

Nukes pretty much are the most useless things you can acquire. They're completely unusable in any moral context but mutual attack, they have no viable non-military purpose (despite some hilariously awful attempts during the Cold War), getting them immediately places you on the hit list of all the established nuclear powers, and the more nukes there are, the greater the chance that some non-state actor will acquire them.

We can get rid of the damn things too fast, but we can't get rid of them soon enough...

Agreed. The only 'real' purpose nukes have is more of a deterrent and to serve as plot-points in general artistic or entertainment media.

Well, there's a theorised possibility for defending the earth from asteroids, but depending on the structure, their effectiveness could range from 'good' to 'you guys may as well have thrown a pebble at it'.

The only 'good' things nukes did was end world war II, and I think we can all agree that the way they ended it was far from ideal. All those lost lives and the nuclear contamination that has effects on people to this day...

Yep. Nukes were a brilliant idea, alright. /sarcasm

I understand the necessity of their creation back then, but since then, they've really caused nothing but problems and tension.

Oh goody I wanted a thread of this caliber to come along to...

Nuclear weapons are a mutual assured destruction weapon

Let?s say you are Israel and there are countries all around you with bigger better and better equipped armies but guess is what keeping them from swooping in and taking over your pathetic little defense are nuclear weapons because even if they didn?t have nukes and could still attack by land they wouldn?t want to risk destroying their homeland so they would not attack and stay bounded because of the nuclear weapons... Let?s say your soviet Russia in the cold war with America and the only thing keeping you from both going to war are nuclear weapons and they have prevented many wars from happening and the only reason nukes are considered a threat now is because Holy shit big shocker we can?t attack them the only real people you have to be scared about getting nukes are terrorists that show no loyalty to their homeland...

EDIT: How are they useless agin?