# Evil Weapons. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921 "2001-11-07T02:11:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/1 "2001-11-07T02:11:27Z")
It’s one thing for GWB to use the phrase “Evil Weapons”, but the Talking Heads on CNN, (including Larry King,) are repeating this without a trace of irony. How can you ask Tony Blair “Do you think it’s likely that bin Laden with try to acquire evil weapons?” without a wink or anything? Does it logically follow that WMD that the US has stockpiled are likewise “evil”? Or are they only evil when they threaten _us_? And, please, Mr. President, repeat after me. “Nu - clee - ar”. Now you try it. The idea of anybody capable of talking about “Nucular” weapons in control of them scares the hell out of me. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/2 "2001-11-07T03:15:02Z")
I look forward to this phrase coming back and biting Mr. Bush on the ass when the next gun control debate comes up. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/3 "2001-11-07T03:35:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*I look forward to this phrase coming back and biting Mr. Bush on the ass when the next gun control debate comes up. \*\* Let’s look at this for a second, shall we? Guns: Only kill one person at a time with no long-term environmental effects. NBC (Nuclear/Biological/Chemical) weapons: Kill millions of people at a time with horrible environmental effects. But I agree, ‘Evil Weapons’ isn’t the most intelligent phrase. Especially when the perfectly good “Weapons of Mass Hysteria” already exists. I’m only partly joking. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/4 "2001-11-07T03:43:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > I look forward to this phrase coming back and biting Mr. Bush on the ass when the next gun control debate comes up. Thermonuclear warheads don’t incinerate whole cities–_people_ incinerate whole cities! Of course it’s true that we don’t fear French or British nuclear bombs. We don’t even really fear Chinese nuclear bombs the same way we would fear nuclear bombs in the hands of bin Laden or his ilk. But that does sort of make the whole “Evil Weapons” phrase look pretty silly, doesn’t it? Bin Laden is an evil _man_; we don’t want him getting his hands on any _powerful, highly destructive_ weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/5 "2001-11-07T03:49:23Z")
I have to say, I cringe every time he says “evil.” Not because Bin Laden and Friends aren’t-they are. But it’s beginning to sound somewhat cartoonish and camp. ---
**Author:** ![sau\_chitnis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@sau\_chitnis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sau_chitnis)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/6 "2001-11-07T03:55:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*_Does it logically follow that WMD that the US has stockpiled are likewise “evil”? Or are they only evil when they threaten us?_ \*\* Oh comeon! nuclear weapons stockpiled are evil even when they threaten us and even when they dont!!!Think about it you got enough nuclear power right now to blow uo the Earth seven times over(and its still growing). Even if one of these weapons are fired at any country from any country the aftermath would be so devastating that it would trigger WW3. Now we all know that what will happen when WW3 happens?! KABOOM/FUCHHHHHIIISSSSHHH/BOOOM whatever you wanna call it, its gonna blow US innocent people to smithereens… So it doesnt matter that if they are evil in case of threat or not. What the main problem is that they are there!!! Talking about nuclear weapons, I would go kiss Ladens ass if that will stop him from using nuclear/biological weapons against us. _Originally posted by derleth_ > [@](#): > > \*\* But I agree, ‘Evil Weapons’ isn’t the most intelligent phrase.\*\* NOw there is no other name to give these nasty weapons. They are downright evil and devastating. I would rather go for an all out gun n’ knife war instead of a one man nuclear/biological offense. BUt thats just my 2 cents… **I HATE NUCLEAR/BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS** ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/7 "2001-11-07T04:04:39Z")
Yeah, but George W. Bush is the Commander-in-Chief of a national defense establishment which possesses thousands of the things. Furthermore, the official position of the United States government for the last 50-odd years has been that nuclear weapons are in fact the best way to deter world war. So Bush is not really in any position to just label nuclear weapons as being an unqualified “evil”, unless he’s got some really radical new defense restructuring plan and shift in foreign and national security policy up his sleeve that we don’t know about. (I guess he _could_ label biological weapons as being “evil” without being quite such a hypocrite, since we have officially forsworn them.) ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/8 "2001-11-07T05:23:50Z")
More to the point, WMD are evil, but we trust our leadership to have some restraint in their use. We don’t expect ObL & Co. to exercise the same restraint should they _also_ aquire evil weapons. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/9 "2001-11-07T05:53:47Z")
> [@](#): > > I have to say, I cringe every time he says “evil.” Not because Bin Laden and Friends aren’t-they are. But it’s beginning to sound somewhat cartoonish and camp. Exactly. I now have this image of bin Laden’s face appearing on my TV, and saying that he is going to set off his evil weapons unless he receives one MEEELLLION dollars… ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/10 "2001-11-07T20:47:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > It’s one thing for GWB to use the phrase “Evil Weapons”, but the Talking Heads on CNN, (including Larry King,) are repeating this without a trace of irony. I just keep wondering what the heck a “good weapon” is. Short of something that fires Nerf, I can’t think of any. > [@](#): > > And, please, Mr. President, repeat after me. “Nu - clee - ar”. Now you try it. The idea of anybody capable of talking about “Nucular” weapons in control of them scares the hell out of me. I still wanna know if we can get Clinton back into office for the duration. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/11 "2001-11-07T21:26:59Z")
I haven’t heard GWB say “Nucular.” The couple times I’ve heard him he’s said “Nuclear” correctly. Wasn’t “Nucular” a Ford-ism? ---
**Author:** ![sau\_chitnis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@sau\_chitnis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sau_chitnis)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/12 "2001-11-07T22:08:07Z")
are you trying to diss Ford??? ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/13 "2001-11-07T22:13:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*And, please, Mr. President, repeat after me. “Nu - clee - ar”. Now you try it. The idea of anybody capable of talking about “Nucular” weapons in control of them scares the hell out of me. \*\* Although I like W and voted for him, I also cringe when he says nu-kew-lar. OTOH maybe we should cut him some slack. Jimmy Carter said nu-kew-lar, and he was trained as a nu-kew-lar engineer. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/14 "2001-11-08T01:45:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > > \*\*And, please, Mr. President, repeat after me. “Nu - clee - ar”. Now you try it. The idea of anybody capable of talking about “Nucular” weapons in control of them scares the hell out of me. \*\* > > Although I like W and voted for him, I also cringe when he says nu-kew-lar. > > OTOH maybe we should cut him some slack. Jimmy Carter said nu-kew-lar, and he was trained as a nu-kew-lar engineer. \*\* He was? I thought he was a pig-nut farmer from Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![Spiratu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Spiratu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiratu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/15 "2001-11-08T01:59:36Z")
Yeah, I cringed reading in USA Today about the possibility that Bin Laden was seeking “evil weapons.” But really, guys, give Osama a break. We all know his alignment doesn’t allow him to use the _Holy Avenger+5_. ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/16 "2001-11-08T02:04:14Z")
No offense folks but there are **NO** evil weapons. If you think that there are, then you’re wrong. There’s only evil people. Every single weapon in the U.S. inventory has a specific purpose. None of them (IMHO) are evil. If you think that I’m wrong with my opinion, please tell me why. ---
**Author:** ![jabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/db5fbb/32.png) [@jabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/17 "2001-11-08T02:11:19Z")
Any weapon that was designed soley to kill mass ammounts of humans is evil. Now, if there are no evil weapons, just evil people, who are they? The ones who make the weapons, or the ones who fire them? The term ‘evil weapons’ does sound silly, though. Peace, jb ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/18 "2001-11-08T02:21:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xploder \* > \*\*No offense folks but there are **NO** evil weapons. If you think that there are, then you’re wrong. There’s only evil people. Every single weapon in the U.S. inventory has a specific purpose. None of them (IMHO) are evil. If you think that I’m wrong with my opinion, please tell me why. \*\* There are no evil weapons, but you could argue that there are weapons that only evil people would use. Such as biological weapons, with their potential to spread far beyond the original target area and kill people far beyond the original target group and mutate into something nobody can control. Bin Ladin might use biological weapons on us, he might be using them on us right now (the source of the anthrax mail is unknown), but I have a hard time imagining the US ever using biological weapons. We have too much to lose if it goes out of control. I can imagine us peppering them with blockbuster nuclear weapons, exploding cobalt bombs in the upper atmosphere above them, and dousing them with enough nerve gas to turn their collective CNS into currant jelly, but not biological weapons. Using weapons that can mutate and come back at you is simply too terrible. ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/19 "2001-11-08T02:27:39Z")
Next on Jerry Springer: When good weapons turn evil! Seriously we are signatories to the Geneva convention so we fight like gentlemen and follow the rules, while obl’s minions are street fighters…teeth and nails and go straight for the crotch. It all comes down to this: Obl’s weapons are evil because they’re wielded by evil men, our weapons are good because they’re borne by good men. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921/20 "2001-11-08T05:53:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\*He was? I thought he was a pig-nut farmer from Georgia. \*\* Before that, he was an Officer in the US Navy, Nuclear Trained, and quite good at it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-weapons/91921.md?page=2)