U.S. nuclear arms race on the horizon?

[Chewbacca]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...1/MN179269.DTL

I'm just a little shocked at the thought of my military planners actually wanting to use nukes. I hope we are confident enough in our sophisticated technological alternatives to nukes that this issues dies before any new arms race begins.

We wouldnt use a "little" bio bomb or any other "little" womd, so why is a "little" nuke so justifiable?

The goverment is not supposed to make the world a more scary place!

[Raistlin Majere]

i sincerely hope it wont pass in the final vote! sure it would ease the wars that i think the US will be fighting in the next decade or two, but if the US will start making these "mini" nukes, how long will it be before every terrorist organization will start using them to level cities? I cant believe they would even consider such a thing! *shakes head in a disbelieving way*

[khazadman]

Well Raistlin, they havn't got one of the normal ones yet, so they'll most likely not get one of these.

[cormack]

Just a study? Lets just make some weapons like in the movie Predator-

[robertthebard]

Great, just what we need, is he going to start work on the Star Wars thing again too?

hmmm. and i didn't even vote for bush or gore. next time i will vote and i know who its not going to. hopefully there won't have to be a re-count.

[Azred]

I highly doubt that this is only a study. If the project is being discussed, then research is already being conducted; they can always claim the research is in the best interest of national security. If we don't conduct this kind of research, then someone else will. I know--it sounds like some sort of twisted 1950s M.A.D. logic. However, look at the situation rationally: it is wiser to develop small tactical nuclear devices with a 2.5 kiloton range, because this means that you need less radioactive material and runs a significantly reduced risk of contamination.

Besides, how is this really any different than building MOABs? It is only because they are nuclear that people immediately imagine radioactive fallout raining down on us for 10,000 years or some other Apolcalyptic scenario.

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Azred: I highly doubt that this is only a study. If the project is being discussed, then research is already being conducted; they can always claim the research is in the best interest of national security. If we don't conduct this kind of research, then someone else will. I know--it sounds like some sort of twisted 1950s M.A.D. logic. However, look at the situation rationally: it is wiser to develop small tactical nuclear devices with a 2.5 kiloton range, because this means that you need less radioactive material and runs a significantly reduced risk of contamination. Besides, how is this really any different than building MOABs? It is only because they are nuclear that people immediately imagine radioactive fallout raining down on us for 10,000 years or some other Apolcalyptic scenario.

You make some good points. [img]smile.gif[/img]
For years now, we have been moving towards discouraging the research and development of nukes and other womd. This new "research" seems like a step backwards even if it won't neccessarrliy lead to mutual assured destruction.

[The Hierophant]

Whatever your political leaning this course of action is insane. The restrictions of nuclear development were a step foward in ensuring that our species does not annihilate itself, and now there are officials who want to do away with them? This is madness. Nukes give mankind the capability to destroy all life, not just enemies, not just ideological rivals, but everything on the surface of the planet! Nuclear development must be opposd at every turn. To any and all Americans that have any say in what their government does I urge you to oppose this course of action in any way possible before it gets out of hand!
As long as there are humans, there will be war. But war need NEVER be nuclear-fought.

[Timber Loftis]

I agree, this is the kind of policy determination that makes me whish Donnie Rumsfeld were in the room with me right now so I could punch him square in the nose and say, "What did you say?" And keep socking him one until he gets the answer right -- "NO N-U-K-E-S"

What about that non-proliferation treaty? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] Whatever -- treaties aren't crap where the US is concerned.

A 5 KT device is, as was stated by a Congressman, like a "little apocolypse" -- and there is radioactive material. Just a little. No worries. Riiiight.

Star Wars would be fine research. If we had Star Wars, we would have no excuse not to get rid of all our bombs, being immune and all. But, this 5 kt bomb research makes me look at all the conservative warhawks running the government and get very very scared.