Russia and the United States account for approximately 16,700 nuclear weapons in the world today. Supposedly, ready to launch at a moment’s notice. Of course, the number of weapons is only an estimate because you have to consider who is doing the counting. India by last count has roughly 100 nuclear weapons. Iran, well it is anyone’s guess as to whether they actually have one, are close to having one and if they do, how many do they have is always going to be questionable. Israel will not admit to having nuclear weapons, and it is widely known that North Korea has nuclear capabilities, so much for the Nonproliferation treaty.
The chance of Russia and the United States entering into a nuclear war is decidedly slim. There would be nothing to gain by either side, it would be what is called “mutually assured destruction” no winners. However, smaller countries that have nuclear weapons may misinterpret another country’s’ intentions. In other words, a country may believe they are under attack and thus counter attack.
Keep in mind some of the countries that have nuclear weapons or are trying to acquire them would love nothing more than to see the United States turned into a parking lot. Stones turned into glass from the heat.
Misinterpretations do happen, and one of the more serious incidents occurred in 1995 when Norway launched a rocket that was carrying scientific equipment into orbit. The launch was detected by Russia and interpreted wrongly of course as a nuclear attack.
If Boris Yeltsin had been a bit faster on the draw, the world may have entered in to something it might not have come out of whole. Yeltsin and his staff took the time to verify and determined it was a false alarm, but he was presented with the question “should Russia” launch their own nuclear warheads or not. In a nuclear war, reacting quickly saves lives.
Nuclear war can start at anytime, whether there is a reason for it or not, it can happen by accident.
Some of you may be thinking well let some of those countries destroy each other, less trouble for the United States in the future. Once a nuclear weapon is launched against another country, the United States would have to react in some way. How the U.S. would react is open for debate, especially with today’s administration.
The affects would be worldwide regardless of the United State’s actions however. Millions of acres of land would enter into a so-called nuclear winter. Agriculture would cease for eternity in those areas. Animals, crops, water supplies and goods manufactured in the regions, gone forever, well for your lifetime anyways.
Billions of people would die if a nuclear war between India and Pakistan occurred. Many would die from the initial attacks and many more from starvation and diseases, because food would not be available, and safe drinking water and shelters would not be obtainable. The days after can be more devastating that the attack itself in some cases.
Some believe that the turmoil in the Ukraine can lead to a nuclear war. The stakes are not high enough, and Russia knows it can slowly engulf the region in small steps and no one will stop him. The rhetoric is there from the U.S. and other countries but it is all talk and no action.
Right now Europe needs Russia because of its cheap natural gas, natural gas that will be used against Russia’s foes or detractors, so Europe is walking the line between just talk and action. Natural resources are now the weapons of choice. Russia was playing chess for years while the rest of the world was playing checkers.
Russia and the United States may face off from time to time, but each knows a launch against the other assures destruction of both countries.
The rogue nations busy proliferating warheads are the biggest threat in the world today. Some are countries that welcome the chance to die for their cause and mutually assured destruction is considered a blessing.