Risk of Nuclear War?

[Gohron]

My concern is Russia - you mentioned that they're second behind the U.S. They have over 5,000 missles and do business with a lot of Arab countries. That said, my concern lies in the fact that a country of that size and nuclear capability could easily proliferate its stockpile to other "radical" countries - like Iran. I'm sure all of this would be done on the black market since any public knowledge of such a transaction would stir the bee's nest. Diplomatic relations with Russia aren't exactly all the great right now and IMO they won't get better until 'Lil Bush gets out of office.

Diplomatic relations with Russia aren't exactly all that great right now because Putin (and most likely his succesor as well) are all Soviet era Communists who would probably sell their left nut and left arm to bring back the glory of the former Soviet Union. Do I think they're gonna start launching nukes? Most certainly not.

Russia may have exchanged nuclear weapons with other powers in the past as when the Soviet Union collapsed a lot of nuclear weapons and materials were "lost" but that still doesn't solve the hard part...weapon delivery. Sure, a terrorist could detonate a suitcase nuke in Washington D.C but I'm pretty goddamn sure it wouldn't be easy to smuggle it anywhere and I'm sure the goddamn thing would be heavy as all hell. It's always a possibility but nobody is going to be launching them.

A lot of people seem to think just because a country has nuclear weapons that they could just start firing them. The only US "enemy" that has a delivery system that MIGHT be able to reach the US would be N. Korea and these would be missiles fired like a cruise missile or other long range missile and could very easily be shot down. Russia, China, the United States and to a much lesser extent, France and Great Britain are the only countries with delivery systems that can hit any target in the world in a short amount of time. The research and development that goes into these missile systems takes far more time and money then actually developing the nuclear weapons themselves. These missiles can theoratically be shot down but it is very difficult because they go into low orbit and re-enter the atmosphere at over 10,000 MPH

I just think the nuclear threat is greater than what most people realize. If there's one thing I've learned in life - it's to never underestimate your enemy. Who ever thought N. Korea would build the bomb so quickly?

The only way I see a nuclear war starting within the next 20 years would be for Russia to make a bold move (which I doubt will happen because they have virtually nothing to gain) and fire at China if relations between the two countries struggle. The second way would be for China to make a bold move and fire at Taiwan, thus involving the US. The final way would be for N. Korea to attack S. Korea, thus starting a conventional war. I'd imagine that both the US and China would side against N. Korea but if they were to use nuclear weapons against either, there could be a retaliation (a very large one) and create diplomatic problems that could potentially lead to an all out nuclear war.

Things could change, but the "nuclear war" we all imagine that was pushed during the Cold War is especially unlikely to happen and if it does, we're pretty much all fucked.

[dakidski]

My concern is Russia

I live right next to Russia and I feel quite safe with them around. They take a hard stance against islamic terrorism, which is the worlds major problem/threat. Russias saber-rattling has other reasons, than actual military conquest plans. The slavs are my allies in the struggle against terrorism and radical islam.

[g0zen]

I had no idea there were so many people here in the black helicopter crowd.

[Error]

Also, missile defense systems are boondoggles designed to funnel your money to defense contractors. They never have worked, and they never will.

If missile defense was never going to work then explain why it works for cruise missiles and SCUDs. The concept isn't that different, its just the execution. Saying something will never work is an attitude that belongs with the stone age.

"Oh that will never work, man wasn't born to fly!"
"Oh that will never work, man can't learn the secrets of the atom!"
"Oh that will never work, man was never meant to exceed the speed of sound!"
"Oh that will never work, man was never built to operate in the vacuum of space!"

I understand what you are saying, the US economy is tied closely to the defense department, and contractors like giving money to congress people who support their projects, I get it, but saying it's never going to happen is just plain wrong.

[g0zen]

LOL trying to compare my criticism with mere ignorance just shows how little you understand about the system. The 'missile shield' has been tested numerous times and failed every single one of them, yet it continues to be given vast sums of funding. It's a slush fund. It'll never be completed, not because of bad science, but because it's never meant to be completed.

[Error]

It hasn't failed every single test. And not every test it failed is because of the system itself. The last test for example failed because the target rocket never reached the area the system was supposed to be defending.

If you want to think that the system will never be completed because it's never meant to be completed, fine. Go about your business.

[Type Ryan]

If you want to be afraid of something, think of how many car crash fatalities there are annually in the US every time you drive to work. That's some scary shit right there.

Oh man.... Don't let me get started on this subject... LOL... That's where i got my nickname....I agree. That is some scary shit.

[g0zen]

It hasn't failed every single test. And not every test it failed is because of the system itself. The last test for example failed because the target rocket never reached the area the system was supposed to be defending.

If you want to think that the system will never be completed because it's never meant to be completed, fine. Go about your business.

LOL, ok, so you're defending a system with a 99% failure rate? Wonderful. And, no, I'm not going to go on about my business because I'm PAYING FOR THIS SHIT. If my tax dollars are going into something I want it to work, and this crap load doesn't. It needs to be scrapped, the contracts needed to be shredded, and we need to find a new design. Or, we could just do the smart thing and work on real missile defense in the way of global disarmament. It's just as effective as what we have now and far less expensive.

[Anthony]

It'll never be completed, not because of bad science, but because it's never meant to be completed.

conspiracy omg.

[g0zen]

Not a conspiracy, just a scam.