Nuclear Weapons, M.A.D & Peace - The links between them.

Discussion in 'Nuclear, Chemical & Bio Weapons' started by RTPol, Apr 15, 2017.

  1. RTPol

    RTPol New Member

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    Hello everyone,

    This post will focus on explaining how Nuclear arsenals have secured peace and security within nations around the world, and why that's very, very important. If you disagree with any of the points I put across, I encourage some challenging.


    Nuclear Weapons

    It is absolutely undeniable that nuclear weapons have ultimately changed warfare since 1945. We have not seen a major war since WW2, with almost all wars since being proxy wars, with the Korean War perhaps being the exception. Nuclear weapons have devastating and phenomenal capability with the most absurd destruction potential. It is no denying that, from 1945 onwards, they shaped our outlook on future major wars.

    Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D)


    M.A.D is the idea, or rather doctrine, that encompasses why many people - including myself - actually support nuclear expansion, and support the updating of nuclear arsenals.

    Simplified as much as possible, M.A.D is the idea that "if you hit me, I'll hit you harder" and revolves around the threat of total annihilation. So long as that threat exists, which it does with nuclear arsenals, it is extremely unlikely any other nation would be willing to pick a fight with the other - and vice versa. If you launch all your ICBMs at me, I'll launch all my ICBMs at you, and so on so forth. This doctrine has been adopted by every country with a nuclear arsenal, and has yet to be disproved. Yes, even the DPRK obeys this doctrine. It is human nature within leaders, nobody wants to see themselves and their countries eradicated, even if you take the opposition down with you.

    It is also a major reason why the DPRK still exists, as due to their nuclear arsenal, no nation wishes to provoke them too much to the point of war, the risk/reward is simply not enough. If the DPRK did not have a nuclear arsenal, it's likely we would've seen Korean War 2.0 with the eventual defeat of the DPRK. Due to their ICBMs and nuclear capability however, nobody wants this.

    Peace

    Peace has been secured globally between powerful nations since the end of the second world war, with the majority of wars being proxy wars, it is arguable that mass human casualties and major wars have almost faded out into the history books. Europe has seen everlasting major peace since the second world war, a feat not accomplished before.

    The Links

    It is not at all hard to see where the links between M.A.D and peace come from - since the development and successful rise of nuclear arsenals within nations, there has been no major wars. The tensions between the Soviet Union and NATO were high enough to lead to total war; this was averted with the threat of total annihilation. Neither side wants to fire first. As soon as you fire first, you are guaranteed that you will have their entire arsenal coming right back at you, which is not the sort of conflict you can escape, negotiate or deal your way out of.

    Without nuclear weapons, it is arguable we would still be seeing the previous, traditionalist style of warfare, with men, tanks, planes and bombs. We still have this type of warfare of course, but we would most likely see it on a major scale if it was not for the threat of mutually assured destruction. Perhaps, without nuclear weapons, we would see a return of the previous warfare doctrines, with the stakes not high enough to justify not going to war.
     
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  2. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

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    In Europe you ignored hundreds of thousands killed in the Balkans in the 1990s.

    I think MAD as a contributor to "peace" is way overstated. Its big effect has been to return warfare into a very slow drawn out affair like the so called "Hundred Years War" instead of the cataclysmic "clash of nations" like World War Two
     
  3. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    U.S. missile plans to zap North Korean threats...
    [​IMG]
    U.S. missile plans to zap North Korean threats
    July 18, 2017 - North Korea’s rapid march to develop a nuclear-armed ballistic missile capable of striking the United States has spurred the U.S. military and Congress to ramp up efforts to counter the threat.
    See also:

    Coast Guard: Missile Test Could Be Held Next Weekend
    23 Jul 2017 -- The U.S. will conduct as soon as next weekend another test of a missile defense system meant to counter threats from North Korea.
     
  4. Mushroom

    Mushroom Well-Known Member

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    Nukes are not military weapons, they are political weapons.

    Other than the considered use of "battlefield nukes" in Europe (and against China during the Korean War), they have always been political weapons. The targets have always been generally more at civilian centers and not targets of military value. They are a big stick to be held up as a threat to bend the will of another nation to your own.
     
  5. Kari Sims

    Kari Sims Member

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    What are nuclear weapons?
     
  6. Mushroom

    Mushroom Well-Known Member

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    Really?
     
  7. Maccabee

    Maccabee Well-Known Member

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    Weapons that are nuclear.
     

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