undefined | Better HN

0 pointsTimTheTinker5y ago0 comments

War happens and is almost continually necessary to keep abusive and hurtful groups at bay.

Go fight somewhere else when necessary/appropriate, or the the fight will come to you eventually.

These are broad brush strokes, I know, but the principle holds true across the centuries.

0 comments

Not an easy decision to make, when nuclear weapon exists.

And that "somewhere else" --- wherever that is --- is someone's home. Please don't say it as if it's a duel in the wilderness.

spectramax5y ago

I think war can still go on between nuclear armed nations - Tradional naval war happens in a localized region whereas the nuke option with current ICBMs is a complete and utter destruction of the country. Imagine 200 ICMBs landing in the US or China. So, I think this would be the last resort and not the first.

Nuclear deterrance works when one party is actually suicidal and weak (North Korea), because if they smell blood, it will be serious. It doesn't work when both states are on equal footing - neither one is going to push the red button when there are other options to solve the disputes such as traditional skirmishes.

Der_Einzige5y ago

Nope, there will be no great power wars while MAD still exists (and it does between china and the US).

At best, you will get some kind of military skirmish before they decide to pull out the nukes. There will likely be threats of nuclear exchange which lead to a cease fire. If there is no cease fire, than God help us all.

But no, two nuclear armed states are not going to fight a large scale conventional war. Partly this is because the US would spank China in a conventional war.

2 more replies

TimTheTinkerOP5y ago

Not if it’s a military base, or a navy in the ocean.

laretluval5y ago

Sounds like the justifications for the Iraq wars.

fc3737455y ago

jingoistic rhetoric

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse