NationStates Jolt Archive

People get all bent out of shape when a nation builds WMD for any purpose. I agree that it's not a good idea for an unstable nation, like North Korea, or Iran to have them, but what's the problem with stable, peacefull nations having WMD? Chemical weapons don't make people more dead than fire and shrapnel. Many Biological weapons are no more deadly than chemical weapons in that they aren't contagious (Anthrax, Botulism). I agree that weaponized smallpox and other transmissible diseases shouldn't be used, but what's the big deal about other WMDs?

Yeah, umm . . . chemicals and germs kill people, but they can't destroy infrastructure on a massive scale like a nuke can

Correct, everything has the exact same result. Doesn't matter how you die whether gassed or "blowed up real good" you are still dead. Sure it is more fun to see people squirming around once they breath in a good amount of mustard gas but blowing things up is cool as well cause sometimes there is a lot of fire involved.

People get all bent out of shape when a nation builds WMD for any purpose. I agree that it's not a good idea for an unstable nation, like North Korea, or Iran to have them, but what's the problem with stable, peacefull nations having WMD? Chemical weapons don't make people more dead than fire and shrapnel. Many Biological weapons are no more deadly than chemical weapons in that they aren't contagious (Anthrax, Botulism). I agree that weaponized smallpox and other transmissible diseases shouldn't be used, but what's the big deal about other WMDs?
they gave godmodders their weapons, need any more reasons?

:D

Gee, could it be the fact that there is no guarantee that they will remain in stable countries?

The Soviet Union was a stable nation by and large, but when they broke up the weapons became easy prey for any group with a large enough pocketbook to nab.

What you've said is an oxymoron.....stable and peaceful nations backing up their peace with weapons that will turn your insides out and give you a permanent, orange afro?

Stable Soviet scientists have become poor Russian scientists who can be swayed with the enticement of large amounts of cash. Stable American scientists have been accused of selling nuclear secrets to China. Stable Israeli scientists sit in an area surrounded by nations ready to destroy them if given half a chance. Stable French scientists may have no qualms sharing nuclear secrets with countries we don't approve of.

Sigh....

Gee, could it be the fact that there is no guarantee that they will remain in stable countries?

The Soviet Union was a stable nation by and large, but when they broke up the weapons became easy prey for any group with a large enough pocketbook to nab.

What you've said is an oxymoron.....stable and peaceful nations backing up their peace with weapons that will turn your insides out and give you a permanent, orange afro?

Stable Soviet scientists have become poor Russian scientists who can be swayed with the enticement of large amounts of cash. Stable American scientists have been accused of selling nuclear secrets to China. Stable Israeli scientists sit in an area surrounded by nations ready to destroy them if given half a chance. Stable French scientists may have no qualms sharing nuclear secrets with countries we don't approve of.

Sigh....
How would a terrorist with a can of VX do more damage than a terrorist with a large private plane loaded with explosives? The death toll would be comprarable, but the exploding plane would take buildings out with it.

So your logic is that because we didn't stop one bad thing we should keep another bad thing around?

By this logic, shouldn't we make rape legal? After all, rape is bad and we can't stop murders from happening.

One has nothing to do with another.

How would a terrorist with a can of VX do more damage than a terrorist with a large private plane loaded with explosives? The death toll would be comprarable, but the exploding plane would take buildings out with it.

Not true. Properly vectored and delivered under proper conditions, a can of VX would do SIGNIFICANTLY more harm than a plane full of explosives. Thousands more lives.

Oh great, now I have an image of a terrorist walking into the neighborhood Go Mart and looking through the beverage section.

"Hrmm, I am kind of thirsty and that can of Pepsi sure looks good. But nah, I'll just get that can of VX instead."

Oh great, now I have an image of a terrorist walking into the neighborhood Go Mart and looking through the beverage section.

"Hrmm, I am kind of thirsty and that can of Pepsi sure looks good. But nah, I'll just get that can of VX instead."

Tastes Great......Less Filling......

People get all bent out of shape when a nation builds WMD for any purpose. I agree that it's not a good idea for an unstable nation, like North Korea, or Iran to have them, but what's the problem with stable, peacefull nations having WMD? Chemical weapons don't make people more dead than fire and shrapnel. Many Biological weapons are no more deadly than chemical weapons in that they aren't contagious (Anthrax, Botulism). I agree that weaponized smallpox and other transmissible diseases shouldn't be used, but what's the big deal about other WMDs?

A WMD is an indiscrimate killer. If I launched a tomahawk missile, I could aim the thing at a military base, a bunker, etc. and thereby reduce the chances of causing civilian causalties. You don't really have that option with WMD. They could even effect people not even involved in the conflict. If the US nuked Iraq, do you think Israel would like the radioactive fallout?

Try looking at WMD from the perspective of the average citizen too. If you lived in N. Korea, would you want to be nuked by the US? Probably not. But do you have any say to tell the government not to piss off the US?

WMDs are much more deadly than normal, conventional weapons. A 2000-lb bomb kills a LOT quicker and more mercifully than radiation poisoning from a nuke. And WMDs usually leave contamination long after the actual weapon has detonated.

NO nation ought to have these weapons, in my opinion. If there was a way to disarm all WMDs over the world with 100% reliability, I'd take it. WMDs are political weapons....because the actual USE of them would be too terrible to imagine. God help us if it ever happens.

Because WMD are indiscriminate they kill everyone not just soldiers unless you happen to get a military base in the middle of a dessert which isnt very lightly.

A WMD is an indiscrimate killer. If I launched a tomahawk missile, I could aim the thing at a military base, a bunker, etc. and thereby reduce the chances of causing civilian causalties. You don't really have that option with WMD. They could even effect people not even involved in the conflict. If the US nuked Iraq, do you think Israel would like the radioactive fallout?

Try looking at WMD from the perspective of the average citizen too. If you lived in N. Korea, would you want to be nuked by the US? Probably not. But do you have any say to tell the government not to piss off the US?
If I lived in North Korea I would _love_ to be nuked. Put me out of my misery.

Because WMD are indiscriminate they kill everyone not just soldiers unless you happen to get a military base in the middle of a dessert which isnt very lightly.

I really don't want to see two WMD-armed countries go to total war :eek:

The main issue is that of disarming. If the US got rid of its nukes and other WMDs, it would probably be blown to bits within a couple months. Why? Because China and North Korea, and probably Iran too would see our weakness and take advantage. And if everyone else decided to get rid of their WMDs, then the only countries that would have them would be ones who would be willing to use them at a moments notice.

With the current situation we at least have MAD to protect us. MAD is mutually assured destruction. China won't nuke us or attack us with a WMD because we will strike back. In this vein, it is definitely possible that one day the world will be radioactivized all to hell, but there apparently isn't a lot we can do about it. Unless my country decides to sacrifice itself so that China can take over the world.