Suppose Russia drops a tactical nuclear warhead on Ukraine tomorrow. Will anyone start dropping nukes on Russia in response?
Suppose Russia starts a ground invasion of the Baltics; will France drop a nuke on them? Or would we just get another large-scale conventional war where neither side dares to touch their nukes?
On the contrary, a deterrent you never have to use is the best deterrent. That’s how you know deterrence works.
No nuclear power has been invaded or attacked on a scale that has any meaning. I think Russia recently has been the first, but they obviously struck first.
Only a small minority of countries have been attacked while developing their nuclear capabilities, or rather it was an excuse to start a war against those countries.
We know that a non-existent nuclear weapons program was used as a casus belli in the war in Iraq and probably again in Iran, although in the latter case we don’t know for sure yet whether they actually kept their end in the Obama deal.
I really don’t understand how MAD is popular again.
Because people keep invading countries or threatening to invade countries.
Sure, but MAD has never actually been tested.
Suppose Russia drops a tactical nuclear warhead on Ukraine tomorrow. Will anyone start dropping nukes on Russia in response?
Suppose Russia starts a ground invasion of the Baltics; will France drop a nuke on them? Or would we just get another large-scale conventional war where neither side dares to touch their nukes?
Still, a deterrent you can’t use is not a good deterrent. It also makes you more of a target for invasion since you can’t get them overnight
On the contrary, a deterrent you never have to use is the best deterrent. That’s how you know deterrence works.
No nuclear power has been invaded or attacked on a scale that has any meaning. I think Russia recently has been the first, but they obviously struck first.
Only a small minority of countries have been attacked while developing their nuclear capabilities, or rather it was an excuse to start a war against those countries.
We know that a non-existent nuclear weapons program was used as a casus belli in the war in Iraq and probably again in Iran, although in the latter case we don’t know for sure yet whether they actually kept their end in the Obama deal.