Has the bomb kept the peace?

Question

I hear very little discussion abou the fact that Israel has nuclear weapons. How much of an impact do think it has had in preventing another full scale war between Israel and the Arab countries? Do you think they would use them if backed into a corner?

Answer 1

Everyone knows that if the bomb is used, it opens the door to global destruction

Answer 2

Strange as it might seem, I believe that the answer is yes, as long as the possession of nuclear capabilities is declared. If we look at it from the end of World War II, no country that has declared nuclear weapons has been invaded. India has fought wars with China and Pakistan since independence in 1947, but ever since they reveled that they had nuclear weapons, any fighting that has gone on has been limited to local skirmishes.

Israel is believed to have some nuclear weapons, but this is undeclared. Mostly what has kept Israel alive is that they have a well-trained army and support for their existence. (Many countries might grumble over Israel's foreign policy, but do not wish to see Israel destroyed.) I tend to believe that full-scale war from Arab countries doesn't happen because Israel would have the upper hand even in a conventional sense.

However, this is why the world is concerned about Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programmes. If either country were to announce that they have successfully produced nuclear weapons and the means of delivering them, they will be immune to invasion, which is not in the world's best interest given the nature of their governments.

True, the threat of a nuclear exchange is a real one. The US and the USSR had on at least two ocassions come perilously to using their arsenal against the other. However, cooler heads have managed to put a limitation of warfare. I do fear the spread of nuclear capabilities to nations that lack international responsibility, but so far that has been avoided, and nothing like the horrors of World War II has yet to emerge.

Answer 3

Yes, Israel having nuclear weapons has deterred a full scale attack on their tiny nation. Having submarines that are nuclear armed, land based launch sites, and moving launch sites, keep some at bay. If there was an all out attack an automatic response would assure mutual destruction.

Answer 4

It's the only thing the Arab counties respect, kindness is a sign of weakness

Answer 5

the bomb has kept the peace.....by spreading the fear of nuclear holocaust

Answer 6

a bomb has never kept a peace
rather peace has kept a bomb

Answer 7

It's the only thing the US respects.