# Nuke New York **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2014, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942 "2014-08-06T12:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/21 "2014-08-06T22:44:23Z")
The possible presence of humans in the city is regrettable, but everything possible has been done to get them out. The presence of cultural artifacts in the city is also regrettable, but those can be dug out after a dozen half-lives. Had I been in on the planning stage of this operation, I might have suggested alternatives, but it’s too late for those now. I radio base for confirmation that a nuke is known to be effective against the zombies, and then drop the bomb. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/22 "2014-08-06T23:02:33Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Fuck a B-2. If I’m flying missions, it will be in a fighter. The B-61 can be dropped from F-15Es, probably from F-111s, and maybe F-16s. I filmed several drops when I was in the Air Force. > > As for the mission? Roger that. Master arm to arm. Oak-man is in hot. Weapons free. In military parlance, what is the opposite of “Master arm to arm”? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/23 "2014-08-06T23:05:57Z")
I lived in New York for 25 years, and I still consider myself a New Yorker. I’d sacrifice the entire planet to keep New York intact, whether or not it’s populated, and by whom. It’s way beyond mere “cultural artifacts.” NYC is the microcosm of everything that’s good about humanity . . . and bad as well. Fuck New Jersey. It’s already New Jersey; nobody would notice the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/24 "2014-08-06T23:58:04Z")
Besides, if no-one drops the bomb, how do we get [Nuke York](http://youtu.be/tKIMCgxQakw?t=34m15s) in a later reel? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/25 "2014-08-07T00:00:38Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > In military parlance, what is the opposite of “Master arm to arm”? “Master Arm to safe”. It’s a toggle switch that enables or disables weapons release functions. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/26 "2014-08-07T00:04:08Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > “Master Arm to safe”. > > It’s a toggle switch that enables or disables weapons release functions. Ignorance fought. Thanks for the info. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/27 "2014-08-07T00:08:49Z")
I hate Noo Yawk, of course I’d jump at the opportunity to nuke 'em …oh, there are zombies too? Bonus 🙂 Do you need me to nuke Boston while I’m at it? It’s in the general area… How about Chicago? Maybe Los Angeles, Beverly Hills? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/28 "2014-08-07T00:09:41Z")
Sure, as long as I could drop a string of “extras” northeast along Long Island while on the long dog-leg back, just to be sure. That way, if any zombies have snaked their way up the L.I.E., they’ll be popped like a zit out of Montauk (and all over Stonington, CT). ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/29 "2014-08-07T06:19:44Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I lived in New York for 25 years, and I still consider myself a New Yorker. I’d sacrifice the entire planet to keep New York intact, whether or not it’s populated, and by whom. It’s way beyond mere “cultural artifacts.” NYC is the microcosm of everything that’s good about humanity . . . and bad as well. I can’t tell when people are being serious or not anymore… ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/30 "2014-08-07T09:56:24Z")
I live in NYC now and would drop a nuke, regardless of the zombies! ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/31 "2014-08-07T10:11:35Z")
Drop the nuke without hesitation. return flight? back to base or fly to Tahiti? Tahiti sounds good. I could do that for a while. ---
**Author:** ![here\_and\_there](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f07891/32.png) [@here\_and\_there](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/here_and_there)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/32 "2014-08-07T10:40:07Z")
The Hell with it… Why not? It’s not gonna stop the epidemic… but we might live a couple of months, more… ---
**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:** [August 7, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/33 "2014-08-07T12:53:28Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > Drop the nuke without hesitation. > > return flight? back to base or fly to Tahiti? Tahiti sounds good. I could do that for a while. It’s a magical place. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/34 "2014-08-07T16:06:54Z")
Dropping a nuke on NY would be easy; I’ve always hated everything to do with the place. But I would like to think I’m “human” enough to take the “General Black option”. (drop and suicide) ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/35 "2014-08-07T17:21:34Z")
Nuking a (mostly empty) major city to reduce the zombie population? I’d say it’s a case of curing the disease by killing the patient, except that you’re not even curing the disease. Presumably the zombies need to follow their food source/virus hosts (i.e. uninfected people), or risk local extinction. The problem of zombies in a mostly empty city is one that will solve itself without nukes. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/36 "2014-08-07T18:13:25Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Nuking a (mostly empty) major city to reduce the zombie population? I’d say it’s a case of curing the disease by killing the patient, except that you’re not even curing the disease. > > Presumably the zombies need to follow their food source/virus hosts (i.e. uninfected people), or risk local extinction. The problem of zombies in a mostly empty city is one that will solve itself without nukes. I’ve read a bit about World War Z. IIRC, their kind of zombies last a long time. Years & years. So no, it’s not a problem that will go away by itself, at least not quickly enough to do anyone any good. As for NYC: Get ready to burn. It’s unfortunate if any living people are still there, but they wouldn’t survive much longer anyway, and they’d end up joining the zombies. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/37 "2014-08-07T19:04:45Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > I’ve read a bit about World War Z. IIRC, their kind of zombies last a long time. Years & years. So no, it’s not a problem that will go away by itself, at least not quickly enough to do anyone any good. > > As for NYC: Get ready to burn. It’s unfortunate if any living people are still there, but they wouldn’t survive much longer anyway, and they’d end up joining the zombies. According to the zombie universe you chose, the zombies can live [3 to 5 years](http://zombie.wikia.com/wiki/Zombies_(Max_Brooks)#Decomposition). I can’t believe that people would rather level NYC instead of evacuating for 5 years. The people childishly suggesting nuking NYC anyways make me think of someone burning the library of Alexandria because a kebob vendor outside it gave them the stink eye once. Like NYC or not, it’s still the pinnacle of American civilization. Period. Nuke your own culture at your peril. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/38 "2014-08-07T19:34:58Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Like NYC or not, it’s still the pinnacle of American civilization. God help us all. 😃 Incidentally, in the book series the plan comes from it doesn’t work. Undead casualties are high, but those on the edge of the nuke’s radius get a high dose of radiation which doesn’t kill them but does make them more resistant to decomposition. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/39 "2014-08-07T20:19:56Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Fuck a B-2. If I’m flying missions, it will be in a fighter. The B-61 can be dropped from F-15Es, probably from F-111s, and maybe F-16s. I filmed several drops when I was in the Air Force. > > As for the mission? Roger that. Master arm to arm. Oak-man is in hot. Weapons free. Does a Strike Eagle have the combat radius for that mission? You’re not getting a tanker drag, unless OP is willing to stipulate it. OTOH, I suppose since the base is unamed, you might be able to bend the scenario to say you have a base with a B61, an F-15E, a capable ground crew, and enough fuel for a combat launch, within reasonable tactical operating range of NYC. And not overrun yet by zombies. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942/40 "2014-08-07T23:11:47Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Does a Strike Eagle have the combat radius for that mission? You’re not getting a tanker drag, unless OP is willing to stipulate it. > > OTOH, I suppose since the base is unamed, you might be able to bend the scenario to say you have a base with a B61, an F-15E, a capable ground crew, and enough fuel for a combat launch, within reasonable tactical operating range of NYC. And not overrun yet by zombies. Don’t really need to consider combat radius, unless the zombies have air defense, which seems unlikely. The Mud Hen has a decent cruising range, and could land for refueling at any base along the way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuke-new-york/694942.md?page=3)