Why did the US never attack Russia over WMD?

Question

During the Cold War Soviet agents were involved in countless acts against the US, often within US soil. The Soviets were allowed to build a massive nuclear arsenal. The US never tried to bully the Russians the way they bully the Arabs now. This is because the Americans like all bullies are cowards and will only pick a fight with third world countries they know they can easily beat. The Russians would easily have been able to stand up to the US. The world is now a much more dangerous place since the end of the cold war with no one to stand up to the US

Answer 1

Agree with you completely. American's who support the war in Iraq on the ground of WMD are bullies with an inferiority complex. They trample on the little ones because it makes them feel better, but are too chicken to take on anyone strong enought to fight back.

Answer 2

There are several reasons for this. First of all, Iraq never had WMD's. Bush tried selling this idea to the american people to increase fears of terrorism in order to gain support for going to war. During the Cold War, the US was in an arms race with the USSR. This is a very different situation. Both the US and the USSR knew that any attacks would just escalate to a nuclear war which nobody can win - we'd all be dead.

Answer 3

You answered your own question, but I think I have a more appropriate answer. True, the concept of MAD (mutually assured destruction) was reason enough, but there was no fear of a madman at the helm of Soviet authority with the sole responsibility for launching an attack of his own.

The "axis of evil" consists (or more appropriately "consisted") of Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. All three have/had a leader that can be described as unreasonable or unstable. Iraq had Saddam Hussein, who had over the years shown high levels of emotional instability and demonstrated the will to attack others within and around his country (Kurds, Iran, Kuwait, political opponents, for example). Iran now has Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is obviously off his rocker - even the the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei is growing wary of this man's lack of reason. North Korea has Kim Jong-Il, who is not much more than a spoiled child who throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. Fortunately, like a child, he can be controlled to some extent, but who wants a child to be in charge of a nuclear arsenal?

The Soviet Union, while ideologically remained an enemy of the United States, except for the fragile alliance during WWII, always had relatively reasonable leadership with respect to foreign policy.

Answer 4

Idiot!
The US beat the Russians in the Cold War without firing a shot and without sending even one soldier over. We did it by using their ego against them and getting into a military spending war. The USSR had about 150 million people but took up 7 time zones as opposed to the US's then 250 millin people but much less land area. Did you want the US to go to war with the USSR?
We couldn't treat the Middle Easterns the same way because they don't have the ego or the intelligence to be dealt with in a diplomatic way. The only thing the Middle Easterns have is camels, oil and sand. They have nothing to lose. They're so clueless and uncivil that they can't be dealt with any way other than militarily. Do you have an alternative method?

Answer 5

Remember your history, the USSR had chemical weapons back in 1920's. Back, then the United States of America was an isolated nation. We did not want to get involved in the world.

Then, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire attacked Pearl Habor under the orders from Tojo. The USSR created the bomb under Stalin. They got away with it because in 1948, the Unioted States did not have a 5 Million Manpower Army in Europe. Also, the defense budget was cut to the bone under Truman. Also, Patton was relieved after WW II because he want us to take on the Russians after the war ended.

Then, Korea was the changing point in June 1950. We ended up as the world policeman. I wonder when we can take our retirement.

Answer 6

The world economy is the reson. The same reason we dont care about China now. China and Russia then China now put so much money into the world economy trying to out build each other, that it would fall apart if it stopped. It it fell apart this would cause many independant economies to crumble, many of whitch hold US debt. That means the bonds would become due. That would be more costly than just spending.

Answer 7

Hmm, you have 100 nukes. I have 100 nukes. Is it really a good idea to bully each other and nuke the world clean of life? No.

Iran has uranium and maybe close to having a nuke. But they can't reach us with it or if they do, it is just one area. We on the other hand, could eliminate them and continue to sleep at night knowing they are no longer a threat to us.

Now, nuking someone is not a good thing so lets try to talk with them and we are not bullying when we have China, Russia, and half of Europe in on the discussions with Iran.

And Russia still has a bunch of nukes and China has a bunch as well so we are not the only superpower. Just because Russia changed the form of government, it did not make their nukes disappear.

Answer 8

Yup.Sounds like the truth to me of course it shouldn't come as a surprise ,powerful countries always take advantage of weaker peoples.Just look at the treatment of the Native Indians,and the Blacks of America all ruthlessly exploited in their time.What was the crime of these peaceful people.The world has become more dangerous strange then, that the U.S has been threatening both Russia and China recently,as well all the Muslims ,Venezuela,Cuba etc...maybe they soon change their policies.Hopefully sometime before we all get killed.

Answer 9

Russia , in apparent support over the attack on NYC , leased the US space for military bases to respond to al-Qaeda . Their alliance now and in WWII has proven stronger than the conflicts that came during the cold war.

WMD was the pretext for establishing a base in a location with resources to respond to those who attacked NYC.
The pretext was weak , but Saddam drew the short straw in the group of leaders to be "unplugged".

Answer 10

Check your history. Read about the Cuban missile crisis. Besides, even at its worst, the Soviet leaders weren't as fanatical and unbalanced as your average camel jockey Islamist.

Answer 11

We had just as many WMD as they did, at the time. But our Administration was much more honest. Ironic, since they didn't have the press scrutiny that they do now. Kennedy was ho-ing around all over the place but it was never reported. I'd rather have a cheating husband up there than the babykilling war-monger we have now.