# Trump's Foreign Policy Briefing and use of Nukes **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 4, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718 "2016-08-04T07:38:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/21 "2016-08-04T12:47:56Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Sorry, but I am with Trump here; I have no problem with the judicious use of nukes against non-nuclear enemies. Is this the doctrine of only fighting those who can’t fight back, otherwise known as the Schoolyard Bully Doctrine? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/22 "2016-08-04T12:47:59Z")
As someone who lives quite close to several war zones, I’d rather not live in a world where nuclear weapons are used on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/23 "2016-08-04T12:55:37Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Wow… are you not at all worried that this might greenlight the use of nuclear weapons by Pakistan, India, China, and Russia? Are you not horrified by the possibility that every military conflict becomes a nuclear war? This is the worst bit. Once you agree that the use of nuclear weapons is acceptable, it becomes acceptable for _everyone_. And once the US nukes someone, the expectation that someone else will nuke the US - or any other country - follows swiftly after. ---
**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 4, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/24 "2016-08-04T12:58:20Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Sorry, but I am with Trump here; I have no problem with the judicious use of nukes against non-nuclear enemies. Yeah. I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks. /Gen. Buck Turgidson ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/25 "2016-08-04T12:59:45Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > That’s not correct. Look at Hiroshima and Nagasaki now. Are you under the impression that modern nuclear weapons are similar to those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Because, I assure you, the ones we have now are a _helluva_ lot bigger and nastier. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/26 "2016-08-04T13:05:07Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > And this is where I think that the RNC or anyone that has suitable standing would be justified in starting a court case to get Trump declared mentally incompetent against his will. A court case they will obviously lose and look stupid doing. Ignorance and stupidity are not elements of mental incompetence. You couldn’t get two minutes into a hearing. You’d be blowing up your entire party and he’d still be the nominee. [QUOTE=Quartz] I’d have used nukes in the Korean War, Vietnam, and Iraq. [/QUOTE] With due respect I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. Nuclear doctrine is not the easiest thing in the world to grasp, as it requires some reading of the history of it and a fairly good grasp of game theory, but in short: 1. Had nuclear weapons been used in Korea, World War Three would have started and Europe, at least, would have been completely destroyed. 2. Had nuclear weapons been used in Vietnam, World War Three would have started and global thermonuclear war would have taken place, thus destroying most of civilization, and you and everyone you love would be dead. 3. There is no situation in either Iraq war where the use of a nuclear weapon would have been militarily superior to the use of conventional weapons. Such use would not only have been a horrendous war crime, but would have made the United States an international pariah, destroyed its alliances and trade deals, devastated its economy, shattered the NATO alliance, and sent the world tumbling into a pit of international warfare on a global scale, probably involving more nuclear weapons. [QUOTE=Quartz] How do you know if someone can kick your arse if they never actually kick anyone’s arse? [/QUOTE] Surely you are not of the belief that there are people who don’t believe nuclear weapons work? There are some pretty good resources on the nature of nuclear warfare, nuclear doctrine, and force escalation out there, and I’d suggest you read them, because you haven’t. In fairness, though, neither has one of the nominees for President of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/27 "2016-08-04T13:45:52Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Sorry, but I am with Trump here; I have no problem with the judicious use of nukes against non-nuclear enemies. The only possible judicious use of nukes is to scare other people off attacking you. “My missiles are bigger than your missiles (and carefully, very carefully, stashed)”. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/28 "2016-08-04T14:06:38Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Sorry, but I am with Trump here; I have no problem with the judicious use of nukes against non-nuclear enemies. Wow. The scale of destruction of today’s nuclear weapons make what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki look like hand grenades. If you need a visual representation of how nuclear weapons have advanced take a look at this [link.](https://www.visualnews.com/2012/04/24/visualizing-the-frightening-power-of-nuclear-bombs/) Still want to go dropping those things around like cherry bombs? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/29 "2016-08-04T14:20:08Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > As someone who lives quite close to several war zones, I’d rather not live in a world where nuclear weapons are used on a regular basis. Don’t worry; more people will be born to “fill the gap” you leave behind. It’s all part of the plan. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/30 "2016-08-04T14:23:22Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Sorry, but I am with Trump here; I have no problem with the judicious use of nukes against non-nuclear enemies. Si02 echoing AuH20. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/31 "2016-08-04T14:29:57Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Si02 echoing AuH20. Clever. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/32 "2016-08-04T14:30:32Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Don’t worry; more people will be born to “fill the gap” you leave behind. It’s all part of the plan. Yeah, it’s like the “Circle of Life,” or something. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/33 "2016-08-04T14:38:47Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Wow. > > The scale of destruction of today’s nuclear weapons make what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki look like hand grenades. If you need a visual representation of how nuclear weapons have advanced take a look at this [link.](https://www.visualnews.com/2012/04/24/visualizing-the-frightening-power-of-nuclear-bombs/) > > Still want to go dropping those things around like cherry bombs? [Ground Zero 2](http://www.carloslabs.com/node/20) Shows thermal, pressure and fallout spread for selected weapons. Choose any city you want, the graphics are overlaid on Google Maps. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/34 "2016-08-04T14:39:26Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > The other thing you’re missing is that people will take advantage of your unwillingness to use nukes. Care to give us an example of this ? Did the Russkies come pouring through the Fulda Gap when I wasn’t looking or something ? And the thing _you’re_ missing is that the second the US fires off one of these firecrackers in anger unprovoked is the second everybody \*else \*decides that “yeaaah ok, so that whole letting the US have the global economic and military hegemony thing has run its course and now they need to be stopped”. Cue the nukes fired at you in short order. The only winning move is not to play, Professor. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/35 "2016-08-04T14:48:30Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Si02 echoing AuH20. And again I wonder if people understand the difference between the various round things on their keyboards… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/36 "2016-08-04T14:48:30Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > And the thing _you’re_ missing is that the second the US fires off one of these firecrackers in anger unprovoked is the second everybody \*else \*decides that “yeaaah ok, so that whole letting the US have the global economic and military hegemony thing has run its course and now they need to be stopped”. Cue the nukes fired at you in short order. > The only winning move is not to play, Professor. He’s in Scotland, so he’ll probably be fine. Probably. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/37 "2016-08-04T14:49:16Z")
Of course the U.S. dropped more bomb on Vietnam than on Germany, Italy and Japan combined, and it didn’t make much difference. Pick a target – major cities, ports, supply lines, the U.S. bombed them all. The practical effect of using nukes wouldn’t have been much different, except that the U.S. would have pissed off even more of the world than it already had. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/38 "2016-08-04T14:51:34Z")
Let’s all just agree that **Quartz** has no damn business getting anywhere near the Oval Office. Similar to Trump. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/39 "2016-08-04T14:57:48Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Yeah, it’s like the “Circle of Life,” or something. God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs. Dinosaurs nuke man. Cockroaches inherit the earth. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718/40 "2016-08-04T14:58:05Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > And again I wonder if people understand the difference between the various round things on their keyboards… For those who did not get the joke, and half of it took me a second, SiO2 is the chemical formula for quartz. AuH2O is the “formula” for Goldwater, (and a campaign chant) who strongly advocated the use of nukes in the 60’s. Unless you are complaining about the non-use of subscripts in the “formulations”, in which case, I think the board lacks support for doing that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-foreign-policy-briefing-and-use-of-nukes/761718.md?page=3)