Would you be prepared to press the button?

[Albumen]

Following the fallout from Jemery Corbyn's answer to the question put to him, I ask the people of NSC what they would do
Two choices:

A) I would be willing to cause a nuclear holocaust
B) I am not psychopathic

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Following the fallout from Jemery Corbyn's answer to the question put to him, I ask the people of NSC what they would do
Two choices:

A) I would be willing to cause a nuclear holocaust
B) I am not psychopathic

Where is the both option?

 

[Albumen]

Where is the both option?

Not possible by definition

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Not possible by definition

I don't think you understand the definition of deterrent and pre-emptive strike.

 

[Igzilla]

I don't think you understand the definition of deterrent and pre-emptive strike.

Retaliatory?

 

[El Sid]

Where's the Croydon option?

 

[beorhthelm]

oh look a massively loaded question/answer. don't worry about the nuances of nuclear strategy, you are either never going to use them or you are a psychopath.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Retaliatory?

It's kept the world free of nuclear attacks for over 70 years.

 

[dangull]

Depends on the circumstances. there should be more options in the poll.

 

[Bold Seagull]

We're going to need all the nukes together when the big **** off asteroid finds it's way into our path...

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

What if we were aiming at an Asteroid or Aliens?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

It would depend on the situation would it not ? With strategic nukes, if it got to that situation it would mean there was already at least 1 incoming ICBM.

Would there be a different response to 1 incoming ICBM, or to 100s ?

Would there be any merit in at least nuking the attacker's remaining unfired nukes ? Or any submarines that have launched the incoming missiles, who have now given away their position ?

Or perhaps you are talking about firing tactical nukes at an incoming invasion force ?


One answer doesn't fit all scenarios.

 

[Igzilla]

It's kept the world free of nuclear attacks for over 70 years.

That's irrelevant in the context of the hypothetical question, "Would you press the button?"

 

[8ace]

Yeah, why not.

 

[dangull]

The USA have already used the bomb twice in 1945. We are told it was a good thing to do to end the 2nd world war. Is the USA a psychotic nation ?

 

[StonehamPark]

If I were Bruce Willis and the button had to be pressed manually whilst my friends made their way to safety.
Yes I would.
Hero.

 

[Albumen]

oh look a massively loaded question/answer. don't worry about the nuances of nuclear strategy, you are either never going to use them or you are a psychopath.

Nuances of killing millions of people with one button, rendering the land inhabitable for centuries? The question is plain, simple and fair based on the definition of a psychopath.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Nuances of killing millions of people with one button, rendering the land inhabitable for centuries? The question is plain, simple and fair based on the definition of a psychopath.

So you are narrowing it down to a massive ICBM launch ?

Incidently, where is the option :

"I wouldn't have to because the very fact I have the weapons and have a stated intention to possibly use them, would deter any situation occuring where the question would be asked in practice"

 

[Thunder Bolt]

That's irrelevant in the context of the hypothetical question, "Would you press the button?"

As someone who has already been involved in the training for such a situation, yes.
You do realise that it isn't possible for one person to 'press' the button?

 

[Igzilla]

As someone who has already been involved in the training for such a situation, yes.
You do realise that it isn't possible for one person to 'press' the button?

Fair enough. Did you win?