Can A Nuclear War Ever Be A Just War?

Answer 1

global suicide would be the result....there'd be no one left to judge what was just or not.

Answer 2

I think there needs to be a clarification here: the type of weapon doesn't affect the "justness" of the war.

A just war is one in which conditions exist such that a war is a viable, legal, option to pursue. Whether i lob nukes at another country or just send in special forces with guns for surgical strikes doesn't change whether or not a war was JUSTIFIED at that point.

Now, on the OTHER hand, that doesn't mean that lobbing nukes is RIGHT. Is there a time when using nuclear war could be RIGHT? sure, there MIGHT be some scenario out there that it could be so. But you need to clarify your question.

Answer 3

I see that some answers here would justify Iraq and Afghanistan using nukes against the so-called Alliance forces. Is that JUST?
A global nuclear war would be a JUST war. JUST "THE END"

Then see what nature can do in the new environment after that, can't be worse than what we are doing to this planet.

Answer 4

I think so. Low yield and strategic nukes could be deployed against specific targets to decimate that country's infrastructure or response capabilities. Done correctly, the number of nukes would remain small, with maximum effect. This is not to say that there wouldn't be long term consequences, but I think Sting was wrong when he said 'there's no such thing as a winnable war'.

Answer 5

There are virtually infinite possibilities (and types of weapons and manners of use), so I say yes there's some scenario that might be just. Like using one nuke to take out a whole nuclear facility operated by a madman poised to launch multiple missiles against noncombatant civilian targets.

An all-out nuclear exchange, as seen in films like "The Day After," would seem to be an exercise in genocidal futility, though.

Answer 6

Depends on who the combatants are. In the cold war, we had MAD, Mutually assured Destruction. If Russia fired at us, we would nuke their whole country and vice versa.

America let the Genie out of the bottle twice in WW2 to save American and yes, Japanese lives. Had we invaded Japan, they would have done like they did on the last few islands, fought to the death or commit suicide.

If nukes are ever used again, it will probably be some third world country and if against America, expect retaliation in kind. You don't let anyone slap you in the face so hard, thousands of your people die, without fighting back.

Answer 7

Yes. For example, if a country invades another with overwhelming force and there is no way for the victims to stop the invaders with conventional weapons. Then I would say use of nukes is justified for self defense.

Answer 8

well all i can say is if ever again a nation use's nuclear weapons it will the beginning of the end for mankind, and it will change the world overnight.

Answer 9

depends on whose left standing

Answer 10

Depends on who is the recipient......