Eisenhower overruled nuke attack against China in '58

[mapes]

You have got to be kidding me.
War is grim, and if we ever enter the level where conflict occurs, my intent is to neutralize the enemy. Not airdrop pink teddy bears with notes tied around them written 27 dialects of Chinese which say "please stop".

Nuking is not funny. It is effective.

I didn't say that we should drop teddy bears. I said that nuclear escalation should not be talked about as a light subject . The far ranging effects on civilian population and neighboring neutral countries is huge.

[freak93]

Keep in mind that China has somewhere between 200 and 400 nukes right now. AT LEAST 10 of those are on ICBMs--probably more by now. Certainly more by 2025, including at least one nuclear sub.


-Rand

cough set off a few of theres cough cough

hey we didn't do anything!!!!!

[WalkinTarget]

Here's the thing about Reagan's tactic - he had firmly believed that the Star Wars defense (emphasis) system was in fact a deterrent, but the USSR was sure that it was to set up a first strike capability so that when they retaliated, we could knock out most of their return strike.
They didn't know how to answer it, so they kept building more of everything offensive in their arsenal, including ICBMs and nuclear subs, until it eventually trashed their economy.

I'm reading the 'Reagan Diaries' now, and its interesting seeing how he hated communism with every fiber of his being. He always used derogatory insults when referring to their sly tactics in the book.

I think any future war will not be a nuclear one, but I fully expect a dirty bomb attack from terrorists on an American city within 6 years. I just hope the Israelis and the Palestinians don't blow each other into the Stone Age before then.

[-Bar]

Here's the thing about Reagan's tactic - he had firmly believed that the Star Wars defense (emphasis) system was in fact a deterrent, but the USSR was sure that it was to set up a first strike capability so that when they retaliated, we could knock out most of their return strike.
They didn't know how to answer it, so they kept building more of everything offensive in their arsenal, including ICBMs and nuclear subs, until it eventually trashed their economy.

I'm reading the 'Reagan Diaries' now, and its interesting seeing how he hated communism with every fiber of his being. He always used derogatory insults when referring to their sly tactics in the book.

I think any future war will not be a nuclear one, but I fully expect a dirty bomb attack from terrorists on an American city within 6 years. I just hope the Israelis and the Palestinians don't blow each other into the Stone Age before then.

I hope the Israelis burn the Palestinians alive... I have no respect for suicidal morons.

[xGoblin013x]

I hope the Israelis burn the Palestinians alive... I have no respect for suicidal morons.

I have nothing but the deepest respect for the Israelis. They've kicked all their neighbors asses in each one their wars, and they don't bs all day or take bs for more than 30 minutes.
If Iran gets a nuke, Israel will probably tell us to go f ourselves if we tell them not to wipe Tehran off the map.
"Is it better to be feared or respected? Why not both?" <-perfect motto for Israel.


Anyway, China won't be the one to start a war any time soon. We owe them so much money that it's wiser for them to keep up the loans than to mouth off. Of course, China's more concerned about honor rather than their pocketbook...

[{CLR} Major.Massacre]

You have got to be kidding me.
War is grim, and if we ever enter the level where conflict occurs, my intent is to neutralize the enemy. Not airdrop pink teddy bears with notes tied around them written 27 dialects of Chinese which say "please stop".

Nuking is not funny. It is effective.

I see no logic in your post. You have kids dont you? How is nuking effective? Nothing good can come from a nuclear war. Thank god your not in charge.

[freak93]

??? its effective by taking out the enemy quickly and sometimes actually saving more human lives than conventional warfare. Theres worse stuff out there than nukes. Gases can be really nasty.

[BenKenobi]

Nuking is effective b/c is kills pplz lol

[Rand{CLR}]

Guys, back to topic, or the thread will be closed.

-Rand

[xGoblin013x]

Eisenhower is still one of my favorite Presidents. He's still vying for #1 with FDR, Teddy, and the original George.

There... back on topic.

[WalkinTarget]

So, in history's timeline, how would this threat compare to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 ?

[Hammy]

So, in history's timeline, how would this threat compare to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 ?

Which threat?

[Rand{CLR}]

If you mean "Eisenhower's Threat," then it doesn't compare. It's not even in the same ballpark. The military and civilian leadership discuss nuclear options all the time. The Cuban missile crisis was something else entirely, and with the exception of a misunderstanding in the 80s, was the closest anyone has come to nuclear war yet.

Though India and Pakistan's most recent clashes over Kashmir a few years ago came very close as well.

-Rand

[WalkinTarget]

Thanks for the answer, Rand ! Wasn't there a movie on the Cuban missile crisis ??? October something or other ?

[Hammy]

I'm going to guess that you mean Eisenhower vs Cuban crises based on what Rand said.

Think about it this way.

The mobilization in the US during the Cuban Crises was greater than 50%.
The 80's mobilization didnt even come close to the Cuban one.
And the Eisenhower one must have been much smaller, because no one noticed the ramping of troops or the transition of US military power.