What works better, lead by example or do as I say, not as I do?

Question

Then why in the world is the US wanting to stop Iran and North Korea from getting nuclear weapons when they will not get rid of those weapons. Do keep one thing in mind, the US is the only country in the world that was barbaric and cowardly enough to actually use nuclear weapons in time of war.

The barbaric and cowardly references were a little much, for some reason they did not seem as harsh when I wrote them (BTW I am a US citizen and a history buff, so that guy that thinks I am just trashing America... you wrong!!)

Answer 1

To a point you are right, America can't really justify morally having nuclear weapons and refusing them to others. The idea we are more benevolent and therefore more responsible can't really hold up under scrutiny if we never give Iran or North Korea a chance to show their responsibility, they may simply want to be taken seriously as an equal power in the world with more industrialized nations.

But I also wouldn't call it barbarity or cowardice as to why America used the A-bombs. There is quite a bit of evidence to suggest Japan would have continued fighting to near the last person (women and children would often fight too out of their own accord) and so the Japanese would have to be nearly wiped out and America would have had to lose millions of soldiers to win the war when the A-bombs may have had enough psychological impact to limit those deaths to the thousands rather than millions (a lesser of two evils situation).

There is also the possibility that America knew the Soviet Union was also developing a nuclear weapon and was attempting to avert a nuclear war after WWII by showing the Soviet Union they already had one and would be able to counter an attack. Again an attempt to limit a humongous amount of deaths by allowing a much smaller number of deaths. May seem a little cold-hearted but politics is a game when waiting too long may be more disastrous.

Answer 2

No country is willing to give up their weapons. The thing is - we aren't testing ours by aiming at other countries. I don't agree with everything Bush does/says - mostly I don't agree --- the fact that N. Korea is aiming while testing is a scary thought. The dictator of that country is insane - he's proably worse than Hitler - but we will not know becuse they are blocked of from the world because of him. If threats are made and taken seriously, you have to deal with them the best you can. Your question is a valid one but it is way more complicated than most people with average knowledge of the issues can understand. We may read certain things and form an opinion but I personally don't believe everything I read AND if I really want to make an informed decision, I would study ALL OF THE INFORMATION first -- not based on a couple news articles.

Answer 3

The jingoistic reference to Hiroshima/Nagasaki is irrelevant. Foreign policy and military strategy are inherently hypocritical: one always wants to ensure that one's enemies don't obtain the advantages one already has, and nukes are no exception. Many people treat them specially due to their unique nature as so-called "WMD's," but they're just a weapon like any other. There are a few other weapons out there with the potential to cause just as many casualties (bio/chem), but those don't receive the same media attention for the plain and simple reason that they're not seen in the same light as nukes. People have lived in fear of nuclear power for the 50+ years it's existed, and old habits die hard.

Answer 4

Niether both are flawed.

Just think of your parents and mine.


The Bomb on Japan.....i have mixed feelings about.
The real essense of this question is the right of the US to hold supremacy but having these weapons while depriving other nation states which we are cautious of to have these weapons, believign they will abuse them.....


tough call....less nukes in the world the better.

Answer 5

Using the Bomb stopped WWII. It was horrific, but it worked...and it was the only thing that was going to stop the Japanese. Why don't you read more history, instead of just trashing on america?

Answer 6

Lead by example, ONLY if you know what morals and ethics are, and plan to use the followers to abide by these same good standards.

Answer 7

Lead by example works best.

Answer 8

by example by far,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the good ole boy tactics of the Bush team have caused problems around the world,,,, who wants to be beaten into submission,,,,,,,,,,,