You are wrong. You act as if some arbitrary number of nuclear explosions will set off nuclear winter, when in fact it is primarily dependent on mega-tonnage. What we're talking about here is tactical nuclear weapons, and barring the X555 Russian cruise missiles, we have the capabilities to completely wipe out their delivery systems. This is not speculative; it is a logistical and tactical fact.



No, it is not. This nation's military was built around the theory of first strike primacy, that includes delivery vehicles and conventional weapon systems. Military analysts have calculated this over and over again. Our stockpile has grown, and while the numbers don't compare on paper, if you knew anything about nuclear warfare in the 21st century, numbers mean little.

I would think those that have a vested interest in the production of nuclear weapons would put out all kinds of data that would claim it wont be the end of the world. I suppose nuclear weapons are ok as long as you never have to use them

How many atomic bombs will it take to destroy the world?
In: Physics [Edit]



Answer
An awful and interesting question. After WWII the US did a study and calculated it would take 10 Megatons (400 Hiroshima-size bombs) to destroy the US. There are now tens of thousands of bombs of 10 Megatons.

There is NO LIMIT to the size of a Hydrogen (Fusion) bomb. The Russians tested a bomb of 50 Megatons that had been "reduced" from a 100 Megaton bomb.

Many bombs of smaller size are more effective at destroying wider areas, so we can surmise a few thousand 1-Megaton bombs would be more than enough.

What madness....

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_atomic_bombs_will_it_take_to_destroy_the_world

The Cold War ended in 1989. But still both the U.S. and Russia have 3,000 nuclear missiles each on hair-trigger alert, pointed at 240 major metropolitan areas in the northern hemisphere. According to scientific analysis if 1,000 bombs are dropped on 100 cities, such a pall of black, radioactive, oily smoke will be created that it will cover the earth for a year, block out the sun, and produce nuclear winter and bring life on earth to an end. The fact is we are continually on the brink of nuclear war and annihilation.

http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Nuclear_winter

Again, you're not comprehending the facts.

We do not need to launch thousands of ICBMs to eradicate Russian systems and stockpiles. Tactical nukes can now be launched on targets which are significantly smaller than the Hiroshima bomb. The nuke-for-nuke theory died with the Reagan era of nuclear weaponry.

You almost sound like you would like ww3. I have nothing against the russians and see no reasone to commit genocide. I think its pretty apparent that uber umerika is the loose cannon of the world anyhow.

I don't think the threat of nuclear war over this is very valid. Both the United States as well as Russia are set up for MAD scenarios. Neither side is willing to throw it all away, nor will they ever.

If anything, the United States would send in ground troops. Georgia contains pipelines for U.S. oil, which gives us a large interest over there.

Regardless of the U.S. entering the scenario, nuclear war is not an option.

You're so jaded by your hatred for America, that everything you say automatically becomes invalid by virtue of your obvious malice. While America has more than it's fair share of bad behavior to take responsibility for, you are wrong in dictating that somehow America is the "loose cannon" of the world. While we definitely now are plagued by the most liberal, left-wing foreign policy since the days of Woodrow Wilson, I think the actions of certain countries (Russia being one of them) definitely put our misadventures to shame.

MAD is a thing of the past, hence the course of this thread.

Maybe I am jaded but it is because my country that once was respected and did a good job of takeing care of its people no longer does such. Its a bitter pill to swallow when your country starts acting like nazi germany.

Well, i would say what American news agencies once again demonstrate their ignorance, stupidity and lie, but as far as Georgia is a small country far-far away it can be forgiven.

Facts:
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1. Georgia attacked South Ossetia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia). They bombed cities and villages with bombers, guns and rockets. There were a lot of victims in the very first night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru3rL34aQb0&feature=related see from 55th sec)

2. Russia has peacekeeper forces with UN mandate there. These forces was attacked too. It is a crime violence.

What is going on right now.
--------------------------

Nobody knows what to do. The militaries of both sides and armed ossetian men fight against each others, politicians babble on and on and tray get as much benefits as they can, journalists lie. All is as usual.

How it touches USA.
------------------

It is another big (i'd say huge) gain of American reputation in Russia.

Saakashvili (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikheil_Saakashvili) is USA's puppet which was brought to president chair by CIA agents via coup (also known as "Revolution of Roses" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Revolution) much likely as they did in Chili in 1971 and failed to do in Venezuela.

Even so-called "Russian opposition" (most of them are brain-damaged Jewish which prefer to get money from American taxpayers rather to earn them with their heads and hands) have to admit what USA made an awful mistake by supporting this paranoid man.

It is a grief to me. I love America. I believe none economical crises can ruin this country. But the lie is what can. American news on TV are much like the ones in last years of USSR.

What is needed to be taken in consideration and _nobody_ will say.
-------------------------------------------------------------

Georgian organized crime is one of the most power criminal organization in modern Russia (and it was most power in USSR time). As any dictator in any time Saakashvili started his rule from doing away any opposition including criminal authorities. Part of them were put in jails in Georgia, but most run in Moscow. I believe (It is _my_ opinion) they are behind the scene of this tragedy.

You are wise woman :)

Especially about Afghanistan. That country of Islamic drug-farmers always was a pain in ass for USSR and Russia. Now American soldiers have to die defensing Russian south border. Much thanks to stupid US presidents, American oil companies and CNN, ABC, BBC and all that lairs.

Though i prefer to see schools, industries and farms as they are during "Soviet invasion". But the West Part of the World prefer "to bomber to stone age"... Well it is your choice.

This is a typical sample of a lie.

_Anybody_ who had Soviet citizenship prior to 1992 can get Russian citizenship. Georgia already started an invasion in South Ossetia in ealy 90th (i had my military service there in that time). Ossetians hate Georgians and will never get Georgian citizenship.

It is the very same situation as in Kosovo. And Russia warned what admitting Kosove as independent state would raise separatism in Ossetia. But nobody wanted to hear. It looks like somebody (USA?) want to establish drugs traffic route from deep Asia to Europe.



Nobody is happy with what crazy plans. Europeans rejected in the last meeting to pay money for this American useless toys.

I do not understand why Bush forces this stupidity. I do not believe he is doing this for sake of any harm to Russia - anyway in case of real war that pathetic limitrophe countries will be smashed and will betray as they always did (and of course they will take a chance to cut off their Jewish - they love this doing). I see no any good reason but establishing The Great Drug Route.



Why don't you think vice verse? Might be it is Russia which lures USA in a trap of the Cold War? Things are changed. USA at the moment is like USSR: stupid government, lying press, week economics... And Russia meanwhile reassembles a Reagan time of USA.

Are you ready to replace your F-150 with Yaris?

Ha-ha-ha!!! The many Russians say the very same in almost in very same words. "Instead of ... Putin is sitting watching ... near Bush"

The only difference is what Russians also mentions "another small president" Medvedev - he has a vacation now.

Thanks Sergey, it's nice to read the opinion of someone that has inside knowledge and actually appears to know what the heck they are talking about rather than the flapping mouth of the uninformed c&p America hating looser (misspelled for his benefit)that we see in these threads all too often advertising his desire to be communist. What is your take on communism vs capitalism Sergey? Since you have lived in that system I think you could share some valuable insight.

I think the concept is straightforward enough, but with stakes that high, I wouldn't want to be overestimating our odds any.

Donatello, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and the rat was Splinter.

A tactical Nuke is a small Nuke that could be delivered in a number of ways. Cruise missile, bomber, artillery, land mines, depth charge, etc. They are sometimes called battlefield Nukes.

They are not governed by salt. The total numbers of each country is only an assumed number, and their locations can never truly be known. Russia-4k+?, US-3.5k+?, China-??340???!
Yields vary up to 2 Megatons! (1 bomb)

Tell me your strategy for taking all these out with a first strike and then explain how you pretend it would not lead to a larger scale nuclear war. (strategic)

I presume you are talking about firing all these nukes (thousands) in Europe alone (or perhaps all over the world)
How do you think this will make Britain, France, India, Pakistan, N Korea, Israel, and soon Iran feel?

Do you expect they will just allow this?
Then Russia has 6,000 (plus????) strategic nukes. Do you think they wont fire a one.

Yes war you are living a fantasy!
Michelangelo, Donatello,,,,,,,

That's just strategic nukes mad man! Silo based, intercontinental!
They are the only ones covered under the Salt treaty, but the US has never renewed it! Congress wont sign the new one.
Each intercontinential missile can carry up to 10 individual Nukes, each with a seperate target! They are suppossed to be down to 2200 each, but estimates are somewhere between what you said and 7k. It really is an unknown number since Congress wont renew the SALT Treaty and they quit offically counting. China has never signed or agreed to limit them!