3 ms·
Nukes made war more costly. No one is safe from them, not even civilians on the winning team. And in contrast to conventional warfare, technological superiority
by tormeh 12y ago
Nukes made war more costly. No one is safe from them, not even civilians on the winning team. And in contrast to conventional warfare, technological superiority won't save you either. Nukes don't need to explode near you, it's enough that radioactive dust be carried in by the wind to make your life hell.
- ArkyBeagle 12y agoIronically, nukes were a substitute technology for large armies. So they were also a cost reduction - for those "advanced" enough to join the nuke club. Like it or lump it, the logic of MAD is still inescapable. It's a real-life Catch-22 that's led to a large scale peace. Nukes are only useful if you don't use them but project the ability to use them. As Nash equilibria go...
- mikeash 12y agoCheaper peace, more costly war, sounds good! My worry with nukes is the black swan events. Used to be there would be a big war every few decades. Nukes put a stop to that... but what if instead of a big war every few decades, they just mean there's a really, really big war, once, after a long period of relative peace?
- ArkyBeagle 12y agoYou have to make the protocols ...wait for it... failsafe.