If we have nukes why don't we use them?

Question

They're just sitting there.

Answer 1

I wish we would

Answer 2

America doesn't use its nukes because of the political and multi-national backlash it would create. Of the 30,000 Nukes in existence we own 27,000. Russia has 2,000 and the rest are distributed between China, France, England, Pakistan, India, Israel, and now North Korea. If we were to bomb any country there is a huge chance that they have an ally amongst that list who will gladly bomb us back. Also the countries that really have no loyal allies are full of materials that are useful to us (Iraq=Oil). Also a nuclear bomb is an atomic reactor that is portable. The amount of energy a single blast releases rivals that of our own very sun. The amount of devastation and pressure it applies to the earth's surface literally dents the earth's crust. The radioactive fall-out can travel for thousands of miles and has the potential to wipe out an entire city in a matter or minutes. The area that was vaporized becomes inhabitable for over 40 years. Nothing is able to grow in the scorched earth touched by the blast. If more than 20 of these bombs go off within 30 minutes of each other the Earth will literally collapse on itself and implode. The possibility of this happening is still incredible high, even with all our fail-safes. That is why we do not dare use our nuclear arsenal on a whim. But a nuke is not the most powerful weapon we have. Hydrogen bombs cause 10x the devastation faster, but the fallout does not last more than 90 seconds before disapating into the air. Also our latest piece of portable doom is the N2 bomb. It is an incredibly unstable isotope of Nitrogen, that even one atom of the substance going off within 10 feet of you will make you no more. These bombs are still within test phases, but they have the potential to wipe out humanity. I'd much rather stick to the sketchy cease fir of nukes we have, then to see those N2 bombs released upon the world.

Answer 3

There are three reason: 1Russia China direct use, 2 Remember how Ollie North armed holly freedom fighters how many Ollie North might help the world against USA 3 Public opinion in this country, check out effect political ad run by Johnson against Berry Goldwater.

Answer 4

It's actually complicated.
To use a nuke would mean to wage "total war" or a war which uses all methods possible for winning. A nuke causes devastating effects that are irreversable. Not only because of its destruction but the moral effects. Especially U.S. being a "diplomatic" country, it goes totally against our democratic ideals and beliefs to use a nuke. That is why we only use them when ABSOLUTLY neccessary. In WWII we didn't fully understand the effects and used them. Whether we would have used them or not, knowing what we know now I cannot say.

Answer 5

if you want to see a glimpse of what the world would be like after a nuclear war that would be the end result of us bombing our enemies, watch the 80's ABC movie The Day After. The only thing more terrifying than nuclear war is zombies. By the way, I was in the military, and a conservative Republican

Answer 6

Because there's no point, obviously. Nuking someone would just cause world war 3. So why use them?

Answer 7

Because if we use nukes everybody else who has them will use there nukes and then their won't be anymore world to live in.

Answer 8

We want to charge our soldiers with "murder" over in Iraq; just imagine if we used a nuclear device over there?? ALL our military would be in prison for murder! They are FAR too dangerous and right now, everyone's walking on eggshells; between Iran and Korea. Nuclear power can be very devastating; ah, but then again, it did "convince" the Japanese to surrender, didn't it?

Answer 9

Have you not seen the pictures on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki websites!?
The whole idea sends shivers up and down my spine.
Do you think we should do that to innocent people again?

Answer 10

gee lemmi think about that. oh! maybe the radioactive material that floats round in the air for 10,000 years and slowly peals your skin off. other than that lets nuke on....

Answer 11

Even Peter parker knew that with great strength comes great responsibilities