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Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts) Sat Feb 22, 2014, 04:50 PM Feb 2014

Does a nuclear arsenal provide any extra national security nowadays?

All of the nuclear states are our allies. We possess non-nuclear weaponry that is more effective in modern combat with non-nuclear states.

I feel like our collection of ICBMs and strategic nuclear weapons could disappear today and our state of security would be no different.

8 replies

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Does a nuclear arsenal provide any extra national security nowadays? (Original Post) Gravitycollapse Feb 2014 OP

Frankly, I don't believe so. What it does is keep a lot of people busy, PDJane Feb 2014 #1

For the longest time it was simply the threat that made them useful 1000words Feb 2014 #2

"All of the nuclear states are our allies"--really? TwilightGardener Feb 2014 #3

I should say functional nuclear states. Gravitycollapse Feb 2014 #4

I would still say you should rethink your assertion. TwilightGardener Feb 2014 #5

They are certainly not our enemies. Gravitycollapse Feb 2014 #6

Well, you might have a different definition of "ally" than I do. But we are not TwilightGardener Feb 2014 #7

If we're in an arms race with China, we are decimating them. Gravitycollapse Feb 2014 #8

PDJane

(10,103 posts)

1. Frankly, I don't believe so. What it does is keep a lot of people busy,

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 04:54 PM

Feb 2014

Making sure that the materiel doesn't fall into the wrong hands, and it's a danger by its existence.

1000words

(7,051 posts)

2. For the longest time it was simply the threat that made them useful

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 04:55 PM

Feb 2014

Mostly, as a vehicle to create an environment of governance via fear. Now, we have a "War on Terrorism."

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

3. "All of the nuclear states are our allies"--really?

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 04:56 PM

Feb 2014

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

4. I should say functional nuclear states.

Reply to TwilightGardener (Reply #3)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 05:07 PM

Feb 2014

Not just anyone who's ever successfully produced a test nuclear detonation.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

5. I would still say you should rethink your assertion.

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Reply #4)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 05:27 PM

Feb 2014

Russia is an ally? China?

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

6. They are certainly not our enemies.

Reply to TwilightGardener (Reply #5)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 05:30 PM

Feb 2014

In the modern economic age, both are allies with our general interests.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

7. Well, you might have a different definition of "ally" than I do. But we are not

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Reply #6)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 05:54 PM

Feb 2014

exactly friends with either country, and we currently have tensions with both (Syria, Senkaku Islands/ADZ, etc.). We are actually in kind of an arms race with China.

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

8. If we're in an arms race with China, we are decimating them.

Reply to TwilightGardener (Reply #7)

Sat Feb 22, 2014, 07:36 PM

Feb 2014

But we're not actually in an arms race with China.

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