Nuclear Weapons

[twobecrazy]

The U.S. announced today it has 5113 nuclear warheads in its arsenal. This is one of the dumbest things the leadership of this country has done in my opinion.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100503/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_nuclear_weapons

 

[mmx1]

So now that they know.......what are they going to do about it?

 

[Flash]

The U.S. announced today it has 5113 nuclear warheads in its arsenal. This is one of the dumbest things the leadership of this country has done in my opinion.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100503/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_nuclear_weapons

Why is it dumb?

 

[phrogdriver]

So before, when they thought it was 5100, we were safe. Now that they know it's 5113, we're screwed? Maybe I'm missing something obvious...

 

[scoolbubba]

More than I guessed we had, but, again, who cares? 1000, 5000, 5110, 5113? What's the difference, you can only make radioactive rubble bounce so many times.

 

[twobecrazy]

Why is it dumb?

I don't believe in the releasing of secrets concerning subjects such as this when other countries are trying to make nuclear weapons is very smart. This would actually have the opposite intention I believe. Instead of Iran or North Korea wanting to develop several hundred they will now want to build several thousand as well mainly to surpass us. I also believe countries such as Iran and North Korea want to build nuclear arms for the purpose that they believe it will put them on an even keel in negotiations and keep other countries from messing with them by placing sanctions on them. I believe the approximation known was a better handling of the situation and as we disarm we give slightly larger approximations of disarmament as well. I also do not believe we should ever fully disarm either. I think of it also as countries that want nuclear weapons will obtain them by any means necessary. Not having a couple of your own will do more harm than good unless we have an adequate and proven means to destroy any launched on our country. Also, other countries are not coming forward with their intentions or actual number of nuclear warheads and I know this has that intention so we move towards more disarmament. However, I believe there will always be nuclear weapons unless something better comes along.

 

[twobecrazy]

I don't agree that we need 5000 maybe a few should be good enough.

 

[SynixMan]

You're "nuking" this. Numbers that big don't mean much. They are still hidden across the globe, safe, and ready to be used as a deterrent should anyone want to rattle a saber at us. The most important nuclear weapon is the first one.

 

[squorch2]

You misspelled "took the stupid Iranian talking point off the table."

 

[HackerF15E]

My bet is that number is the result of some fairly creative accounting.

Most interesting is what Sec Clinton referred to there as "the junkpile". When weapons are retired and dismantled, the "physics package" -- the nuclear heart of the bomb -- doesn't just disappear into thin air. It may not be physically installed in a weapon, but it still exists. And we have 50 years of weapons-grade nuclear material that has been created and weaponized.

So, that may be a number that represents weapons that can be launched tomorrow morning, but should the world situation change and a need for more emerges, we'll be okay.

 

[GroundPounder]

I just hope they never let on to the current mine shaft gap, something like that gets out and we're all screwed.

 

[Flash]

......Instead of Iran or North Korea wanting to develop several hundred they will now want to build several thousand as well mainly to surpass us......

They would have a very difficult time making more than a few, very hard for them to make hundreds if they wanted and pretty much out of the realm of reality for them to make thousands.

 

[CommodoreMid]

"We've got about 2600 more than anybody else, whatever."

 

[twobecrazy]

They would have a very difficult time making more than a few, very hard for them to make hundreds if they wanted and pretty much out of the realm of reality for them to make thousands.

Currently you are correct and I agree. I don't think it is out of the realm of reality for them to make that many in the future. I also believe it is not out of the question for other countries to sell them some as well after they have built a few.

 

[Flash]

Currently you are correct and I agree. I don't think it is out of the realm of reality for them to make that many in the future. I also believe it is not out of the question for other countries to sell them some as well after they have built a few.

They would be bankrupt long before they got there, nukes are not a cheap or easy endeavor.