Thursday, October 12, 2017

Would The U.S. Launch A Nuclear First Strike On North Korea?

Japan's Self-Defense Forces F-15 fighter jets (top and bottom) conduct an air exercise with U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flying from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in the skies above the East China Sea, Japan, in this photo released by the Air Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan September 9, 2017. Air Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/HANDOUT via REUTERS

David Barno and Nora Bensahel, War On The Rocks: The Growing Danger of a U.S. Nuclear First Strike on North Korea

The escalating tensions over North Korea have brought the United States closer to war on the Korean peninsula than at any other time in decades. Yet Washington is just as likely as Pyongyang, if not more likely, to initiate the first strike — and would almost certainly use nuclear weapons to do so. Such a strike may be the only way to decisively end the North Korean nuclear program, but its incalculable effects would extend far beyond the devastation and destruction in Korea. Its political, economic, and moral consequences would permanently and disastrously undermine U.S. interests for generations to come — and must be avoided at all costs.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The U.S. launching a nuclear war by choice .... I just do not see that happening, even though everyone knows that the U.S. has reserved the right to launch such a strike if it had incontrovertible proof it was in danger.

Update: More information on what weapons the U.S. could use against North Korea .... The U.S. Navy Could Attack North Korea from Stealth Submarines (Scout Warrior).

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Given 'Murica's zest and skill for incinerating Asians in the recent past, (about 5 million in Korea, Japan, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia)
Sure. Why not? What could possibly go wrong?

MAGA.

As long as our draft dodger-in-chief has a flag to wrap himself in and enough adult diapers, it'll work out fine.

Anonymous said...

Some facts

1. We estimate North Korea has 30-60 nukes by now.

2. We know that they are hard to get because they are usually deep underground and on mobile rocket launchers (thanks again, China)

3. We know our Intel is terrible when it comes to north Korea - it has been terrible for even more open states, so there's a huge error margin associated with it


Now. Some people argue that low yield nukes (b61 etc) would be good in this scenario, to "get them all".

Sorry but this is just retarded. Are these war planers and pundits seriously suggesting we do the equivalent of carpet bombing with low yield nukes?

Prudence would dictate that the north Koreans keep their stockpile in several perhaps dozen of different locations. We will never be able to get them all. No way.

And as we do not know if the north Koreans operate on a fail safe vs fail deadly gameplan, a decapitation strike (which they expect for decades by now) will likely also not help.

Means: unless we're willing to completely destroy north Korea, and kill 25-26 million innocent people, we cannot change anything.

So, North Korea not only will be a nuclear powered state, but it in fact is already. The time to do something was several years ago. The window closed under the Obama administration and is certainly closed already under the Trump administration unless they are willing to risk millions of dead Americans at an ever increasing likelihood. Because the US doesn't have the defense capabilities to avoid all of these nukes reliably.

So ultimately because of inaction 5-10 years ago we're now in a position where we have to accept a guy who killed family members and executed his generals, to have nukes and live as a demiGod in his country. Thanks again, China - also on behalf of all innocent north Koreans who will starve and essentially continue to live in slavery because of you.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, it's all China's fault.

How is that again?

Jay Farquharson said...

Window closed under the Bush Administration,

Google "Agreed Framework",

Like Iran, Canada, Mexico, etc are about to find out, a Treaty with the US is worthless.

Anonymous said...

Its the only card that can be played.
We are talking about decimating everything within 500km of the DMZ. Then you have about 2 hours to capture and convince Kim to make his army surrender.

Beyond that you would need the most sophisticated land sea and air missile defence system in the world to stop any and all attacks. Pilots would have to be willing to kamakazi themselves if ordered.

The threat here is not NK, after that initial shock, what is China's response, what is Russia's response and what will that International community do about it.