Should there be nuclear weapons on Earth?

[username]

Let's have the a hypothetical situation. You have the hand of god control over nuclear weapons, with the click of your fingers you could remove all nuclear weapons from the world once and for all. Would you do so? If so why? If not why not?

[Opening Batsman]

Nope, because then there would be a new arms race.

[Ratamacue]

Yes, yes I would. We saw what they could do with their first use in anger. We don't need to see it again, nor should have to be concerned with rogue states selling nuclear weapons to terrorists.

[ViktorNavorski]

I voted "Yes, I would," but I do not think it will change a thing. Like Auzzzie said, some way, some how, a new arms race would occur, it is human nature.


As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create.

[BarkingSquirrel]

I answered no. If I had the hand of god, I'd kill every human anyways.

[James]

Let's have the a hypothetical situation. You have the hand of god control over nuclear weapons, with the click of your fingers you could remove all nuclear weapons from the world once and for all. Would you do so? If so why? If not why not?

No... I would leave them in the hands of the greatest nation ever to grace the face of the planet...

the USA!

[jmatucd]

this question is stupid and implausible. Therefore, i would use the said nuclear weapons to stop you from posting the said question (since we are talking about time travel and other nonsense)

[username]

this question is stupid and implausible. Therefore, i would use the said nuclear weapons to stop you from posting the said question (since we are talking about time travel and other nonsense)


Let's have the a hypothetical situation. You have the hand of god control over nuclear weapons, with the click of your fingers you could remove all nuclear weapons from the world once and for all. Would you do so? If so why? If not why not?

[bloddyaxe]

Nuclear weapons are needed to defend us from alien invasion!
anyhow, my second name is "hand of god" rofl except it is icelandic of course...

[BlackRain]

Having nuclear weapons probably prevented a Third World War in the past with their deterent value.

However, now with these unstable Islamic fascist countries aquiring these deadly weapons, the likelyhood that they will be used has increased.

[achilles]

Let's have the a hypothetical situation. You have the hand of god control over nuclear weapons, with the click of your fingers you could remove all nuclear weapons from the world once and for all. Would you do so? If so why? If not why not?

No... I would leave them in the hands of the greatest nation ever to grace the face of the planet...

the USA!

Watch your step on your way out :lol:

J/K James ;)

[achilles]

this question is stupid and implausible. Therefore, i would use the said nuclear weapons to stop you from posting the said question (since we are talking about time travel and other nonsense)

I think the question is quite legitimate and a good starting point for a conversation, given that you and I are willing to talk about it.

I think N.W. would be meaningful only at the hands of a single, 'benevolent' power, that would be able to use the deterrent power of N.M as a means towards world stability.

Now that there is a good number of nuclear countries i think having nukes is more or less redundant. If one uses it, someone else will do so too and we all go down. Using nukes nowadays would be self-destuctive.

In any case, modern tactical weapons are powerful enough to get the job done so that we dont need a nuclear capacity able to blow up the whole solar system.

Just some thoughts...

[achilles]

Having nuclear weapons probably prevented a Third World War in the past with their deterent value.

However, now with these unstable Islamic fascist countries aquiring these deadly weapons, the likelyhood that they will be used has increased.


Which are those numerous Islamic Fascist countries again, apart from Iran?

[Oddbod]

Having nuclear weapons probably prevented a Third World War in the past with their deterent value.

However, now with these unstable Islamic fascist countries aquiring these deadly weapons, the likelyhood that they will be used has increased.


Which are those numerous Islamic Fascist countries again, apart from Iran?

Pakistan

[achilles]

Having nuclear weapons probably prevented a Third World War in the past with their deterent value.

However, now with these unstable Islamic fascist countries aquiring these deadly weapons, the likelyhood that they will be used has increased.


Which are those numerous Islamic Fascist countries again, apart from Iran?

Pakistan

Pakistan? America's good friend (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3522174.stm) suddenly became a rogue state? The country which according to Colin Powell is America's key ally? (http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/19inter.htm)

I repeat...which are those 'deadly' Islamic fascist countries that America should be so afraid of. Tricky question huh? ;) Well Pakistan is out of the list...Saudi Arabia?

Show me the great danger from specific islamic fascist countries

[szr]

PakistanPakistan? America's good friend (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3522174.stm) suddenly became a rogue state? The country which according to Colin Powell is America's key ally? (http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/19inter.htm)That's some nice black and white thinking you've got going on there, achilles. And I always thought you were just some Eurowussie. Glad to see you finally thinking like an American and ignoring the nuances of foreign relations.

[achilles]

PakistanPakistan? America's good friend (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3522174.stm) suddenly became a rogue state? The country which according to Colin Powell is America's key ally? (http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/19inter.htm)That's some nice black and white thinking you've got going on there, achilles. And I always thought you were just some Eurowussie. Glad to see you finally thinking like an American and ignoring the nuances of foreign relations.

Mind you...i realize pretty well that between black and white there are many different shades... I am just asking these question as a response to minimally thought, aphoristic statements such as:

However, now with these unstable Islamic fascist countries aquiring these deadly weapons, the likelyhood that they will be used has increased.

Reminded me a bit of Rumsfeld's precision: WMD are somewhere North, South, East and West of Tikrit. ;) I hope i am making my point clear.

No black and white at this end of the line bud :D :D

[achilles]

And lets not forget that according to some its a black and white world.

"Either with us or against us"...and there go all those nice shades of grey p-)

[Knutsen]

James, why should the USA have them, being the only country that has ever used them (against civilian population) ?

[Sayeret]

I'd probably get rid of nuclear weapons but it has helped maintain peace in some ways with regards to a possible wars between the US and Russia, Pakistan and India, and Israel and the Arabs.

[vryhpyammoadded]

You have the hand of god control over nuclear weapons, with the click of your fingers

Don't even offer that. I'd be too tempted to start smiting those twerps who rubber neck huge traffic jams at rush hour when the wreck is in the opposite lane. I can't imagine what would happen watching the news or if another US election came up! I can see it now...G dam tail gating jerk...WHOOMPH! Tonight’s presidential debate WHOOMPH. In blahblahbabad today terrorists killed WHOOMPH! On tonight’s American Idol WHOOMPH! You sick bastard posting this WHOOMPH!

There's a reason why they have two keys ;)

In all seriousness, I'd only remove the insane numbers of nukes leaving each power with a hundred or so. That should be enough to prevent massive WWII like conventional wars and not destroy civilization when they eventually get used.

[Opening Batsman]

And lets not forget that according to some its a black and white world.

"Either with us or against us"...and there go all those nice shades of grey p-)

xbigfat2

[Loco]

I think there shouldn´t be nuclear weapons in the earth. What some countries with nukes seem to ignore is that having those weapons is not so difficult for countries of 2º level, and public opinion in many places is beginning to think that best way for not being invaded or "liberated" agaisn´t your own willing is having nukes. Nukes are more democratic and cheap today than 25 years ago.