What if Terrorist's Used a Nuke?

[dotcoma]

It is disturbing to even think about for me, losing an entire American city, but what if the terrorists did somehow get a nuclear weapon or a dirty bomb? What if they used it (likely on Washington or New York)?

Would it be civilization changing? How do you think we would respond? How do you think we should respond?

I personally think the US would consider wiping out the entire Middle East out of absolute anger/frustration.

Also, as a sub-argument: How do you think we can prevent our cities from being harmed in this way?

I personally think we need to further develop all regions of the Middle East. The more-developed the region the less likely the average people in those regions will support the fanatics willing to kill us.

discuss...

[Mr.Vicchio]

We have a policy, use a WMD on us, we retaliate in kind.

Now with Terrorist we have a problem... how do we return the favor?


I am not the first to suggest this, but since the greatest threat of a Nuke against us is Islamic Jihadist, openly make it known, a US City gets nuked, and we give 1 hour warning to the holy city of Mecca to evacuate (rather kind considering we wouldn't have any warning) and then we turn it into a Sand parking lot.

The very thought of Mecca being obliterated would be enough to get the average non-jihad muslim to turn on the Jihadist. If you don't visit Mecca, you can't get into Paradise.

[tinybear]

How about not waiting for that to happen? How about a pre-emptive strike? Just a thought.

[rmnunez]

Nuking Meccah would not be well-received by the average non-jihadist, I doubt any Muslim would be satisfied the warning against nuke use by jihadists justifies threatening (let alone obliterating) their holiest city.

[belverron]

Right now, I hope they nuke Houston. They'd wipe out me and any reason I might have to live, not to mention this wretched city. I want chocolate.

[Pooeypants]

A nuclear strike against Mecca would likely turn all Muslims into fanatics hell-bent on destroying the United States. It is a ludacrous to even suggest such an act. If an eye for an eye really did work, why is there still so much conflict in the world?

[castille]

Because people too often take 100 eyes for 1 eye.

[G. Adams]

Quote by: dotcoma It is disturbing to even think about for me, losing an entire American city, but what if the terrorists did somehow get a nuclear weapon or a dirty bomb? What if they used it (likely on Washington or New York)? Would it be civilization changing? How do you think we would respond? How do you think we should respond? I personally think the US would consider wiping out the entire Middle East out of absolute anger/frustration. Also, as a sub-argument: How do you think we can prevent our cities from being harmed in this way? I personally think we need to further develop all regions of the Middle East. The more-developed the region the less likely the average people in those regions will support the fanatics willing to kill us. discuss...

Well a dirty bomb isn't likely to do much more damage than the initial blast. It is remarkebly inefficiant use of radioactive materials, and we have pretty good systems set up to clean it up. The panic it creates however will probably kill more people than the blast.

I don't know exactly how to deal with a proper nuclear device used by terrorists. I do know what would happen though, the situation would be used to attack a country with something to take in order to sate the citizens bloodlust of whichever unfortunate country got hit.

The only way to deal with it is to make sure it never happens. This means cutting off the support of terrorists by turning their supporters against them, and then dealing with the remaining hardliners. All of which means improving the image of your state abroad.

[mindclear]

‘Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future…There is not a nation of the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States at this very hour… for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival. These words were uttered back in 1852 by Frederick Douglass.

Lets ask the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki how they feel America should act.

[mindclear]

‘What IF the terrorists used a nuke’ Vs ONLY Terrorists useD nukes

[Mr.Vicchio]

If we made it known that a Nuke on US Soil would result in the glassing of Mecca, the Muslims would have to deal with the terrorist themselves.

Who do you blame then?

The USA for carrying out it's threat? OR the terrorist for forcing our hand?

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: Mr.Vicchio If we made it known that a Nuke on US Soil would result in the glassing of Mecca, the Muslims would have to deal with the terrorist themselves. Who do you blame then? The USA for carrying out it's threat? OR the terrorist for forcing our hand?

If we use such a threat, how does that makes us any better than the terrorist we're fighting? How can you call yourself "good" as opposed to "evil"?

[Matt W]

That's a...despicable way to act. What would you expect to happen to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, or even any Christians in a predominantly Muslim country? You think they've got it bad now?

You also threaten Muslims throughout the world, rather than the governments/organistions who act against America. Why punish an entire religion for the sins of the maniacs? What will the reaction be of US Muslims?

This is...mind-numbing in it's capacity for evil.

[Mr.Vicchio]

How can you defeat evil by being afraid?

The risk of a Nuclear Device against the USA is there, it's real. We have to defend our citizens from such. If that means placing Damocles Sword over Mecca to prevent the slaughter of millions...

I would say were still the good guys.

Why?

Because we wouldnt' pre-emptively strike, and there is plenty of warning before hand.

MAD worked for 50 years (and in some repsects is still in effect though quietly), apply it to the war on Terror. It's a time tested and proven method for dealing with Nukes.

[Mr.Vicchio]

Quote by: Matt W That's a...despicable way to act. What would you expect to happen to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, or even any Christians in a predominantly Muslim country? You think they've got it bad now? You also threaten Muslims throughout the world, rather than the governments/organistions who act against America. Why punish an entire religion for the sins of the maniacs? What will the reaction be of US Muslims? This is...mind-numbing in it's capacity for evil.

The only people that would feel that way are those incapable of seeing past the PC brainwashing they are subjected too.

How can you be so... simple as to miss the greater issue here?

What is our biggest problem fighting the Islamic Terrorist?

That's right, the Islamic WORLD as a whole isn't fighting them. These are people that have perverted the word of Islam inot something evil. But the Islamic followers have yet to stand up and denounce these creatins.

Give them a reason too.
.

[Pooeypants]

This world doesn't run in a monovision Mr Vicc, just remember that. Good and Evil are relative terms, it is completely subjective.

[Matt W]

But the Islamic followers have yet to stand up and denounce these creatins.

They have, actually. There's the trial of that cleric in Indonesia. There's the Yemen's constant efforts against Wahabist tribesmen. Pakistan is constantly fighting against pro-Taleban elements in the border regions. Algeria cracks down on extremists every day. As does Egypt. That's just a few of the 'denunciations' going on.

I repeat, why victimise them? And European & US Muslims?

[ericsp23]

Threatening to nuke Mecca would only confirm in the minds of most Muslims that we are in a holy war with them. That would swell the ranks of our enemy.

[fedfem]

The Arab and Islamic world has denounced the extremists just as we in the US have denounced our Right Wing Christian extremists. There is more of a threat of a dirty bomb from elements within the US than there are from outside.

All arrests and convictions in the US for WMD and terrorist acts in the last few years have so far been right wing religious extremists from here.

[Charles]

You think the threat of nuking mecca would turn them against their terrorists? They'd just turn against the US. Dialectics and politics do NOT mix