Consider this: It would be fair to say that since 1945 the United States has spent some $20,000,000,000,000 ($20 trillion, AI-Gemini agrees) on all preparations to defend the United States and our friends from the opposition. Let me put it another way: There has been spent twenty trillion dollars for preparations to destroy and kill other nations and their people with whom we disagree. Just think of all the work-earned-and-paid taxes that went into that twenty trillion, instead of being used for all phases of the betterment of mankind. Truly, that has got to be, and will never ever be, a greater act of stupidity. Oppenheimer probably understood this, naming the goal, the elimination of war itself
People so often identify psychological strength with war and violence, with the macho man image Pete Hegseth neurotically is fixated upon.
One can also say there is also the psychological dynamic at work regarding the inherent "drama" of conflict, which always makes for an"interesting" - engaging story in literature, art, and film. And war, may be the ultimate conflict that has life and death consequences.
It is one thing to understand this psychological aspect of our humanity, how we actually can enjoy conflict in our stories and even in our games. But here is the irony: art and simulation of war, is not the same as the reality of war itself. Destruction and the evisceration of human lives is its end product. While you can walk away from a movie, and walk away from a book - you don't walk away from a real war.
This is where humanity needs to understand these psychological impulses, and grow up to manage them in a way that does not become self-destructive. It will require deeper psychological growth and understanding for the human race to progress.
Nuclear weapons employ a lot of people. We could capture this advantage without the downside (other than cost) by making nuclear weapons that don't work. Kind of like those pistols that when you fire them put out a flag that says "bang". Think of it. It would satisfy the MIC because the money would be spent. And the pacifists because there would be no danger. A win-win all around.
Perhaps, given the dire ancillary threats from the release of nuclear weapons (nuclear winter, etc.), which are not stopped by national borders, the US could eliminate these weapons altogether, knowing the other side would be destroying themselves if they used them. At least if they used them en masse.
Either way a massive reduction in the US nuclear arsenal would make the US and the world safer.
Could excess testosterone be at the root of the problem? (missile envy)
Ironic, since it seems testosterone levels are at an all time low (in American men, anyway), due to our mostly unhealthy lifestyles and environmental degradation.
The Buddha, 2600 years ago, said Greed, Hatred, and Delusion were the three poisons in this world.
Now a new nuclear arms race is sweeping the world, from Europe to Japan.
The Russian invasion kicked it off and now the US-Israeli war against Iran has put it in high gear.
Only days after the US-Israeli war against Iran began on February 28, Macron announced on March 2 a massive build-up of the French nuclear arsenal, followed by an agreement to extend the French nuclear umbrella over eight other European countries, and now with Norway, nine. And the Finnish parliament just voted to allow nuclear weapons to be stationed on Finnish soil.
On February 15, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, when asked in an interview about his position on initiating a Polish nuclear program, stated that “the path toward a Polish nuclear project, in full respect of all international regulations, is a path Poland should pursue.” Pressed further on whether “the Americans would allow it,” he replied that he “did not know, but that Poland should nevertheless move in this direction and begin preparatory work.”
If they say that in public it means the actual work is well underway.
The debate is growing in Germany, Sweden, Japan, South Korea and Australia to develop nuclear weapons programs.
Does anyone doubt that similar debates and moves are underway in Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and other medium regional powers. Any country with the technical capacity is undoubtedly considering or already beginning such programs.
Secret programs are already being developed.
The march towards war is unmistakable. Everywhere we look we see historic military build-ups.
There will be no "Cold War." That is historically precluded. This is driven by economics, and the main axis is the U.S. drive towards war against China begun fifteen years ago by Obama's Pivot to Asia in 2011, but there will undoubtedly be many other regional and proxy wars.
This preparatory period is akin to those that preceded WWI and WWII. Lots of jockeying for position and reevaluating options, and many "little" wars and skirmishes, indirect and direct.
And with the spectacular humiliating defeat of already-declining US imperialism by Iran, absolutely all bets are off over the coming months and years.
Every ruling class in every country is beginning to debate and reevaluate their positions as the post-WWII Pax Americana world order is rapidly unravelling. The American hegemon just took an unprecedented historic body blow.
Absolutely no one can predict how this will now unfold, other than the inevitably of wars.
Question, Bill: you said you see a Russian nuclear attack on Ukraine as the most immediate alarming scenario. Do you think the possibility of U.S. deployment of nukes, either on Iran or another Israeli enemy, is also of immediate concern? I'd like to think "no," but....
I'd put Russia first because Ukraine, helped by the U.S. and NATO members, is striking deep into Russia. What would happen if Putin was killed by a Ukrainian drone? His successor would want to send the strongest possible message against whichever country was most responsible.
The U.S. doesn't need to use nukes against Iran, and of course Israel has its own nukes to "defend" itself.
Hello Bill Astore... According to Reports, the Russian Masses, aka the 'Narood', are starting to Crack as the Ukrainian Resistance becomes Visible in Moscow... A 'ReVisit' of 1905, or 1917, is becoming possible...
Well, the sane ones of us know that the U.S. doesn't need to nuke Iran, but that completely excludes the rubber-room-worthy guy in the Oval. Rumor has it that he wanted to deploy nukes months ago, but Dan Caine said no.
I'm just a bit concerned that Bibi could goad Trumpy into something irreparably drastic.
Hello Denise... According to Mary Trump. DJT used to Fantasize about Nuclear Armageddon as a Child... DJT is now a 80yo Child... Of Course DJT's Hard-Core Evangelical Base Would Love It...
Hello Denise... DJT's Dementia is Accelerating..... The DC GOP is still Cowardly... DJT 2.0 Strongest Motives are Greed, and Revenge... DJT may reach for Nukes to 'force' open the Strait of Hormuz... The other Gulf States will try to restrain DJT...
Filed under little men w/ big buttons: All your cans of baked pork & beans & bottled water, Iodine Pills will not save you in your backyard Fall -Out Shelter in the event of a "Total, Global Nuclear War!!"
Hello Bill Astore... This is a very Good Posting... So Far, Strategic, or Tactical Nuclear Weapons haven't been employed... They have been used as a Deterrent to Total War... The use of Tactical Nukes was Nixon's 'Secret Plan' in 1968... He was talked out of it by the JCS... Instead we got 1969, the bloodest year for the US Effort in the Vietnam War...
Consider this: It would be fair to say that since 1945 the United States has spent some $20,000,000,000,000 ($20 trillion, AI-Gemini agrees) on all preparations to defend the United States and our friends from the opposition. Let me put it another way: There has been spent twenty trillion dollars for preparations to destroy and kill other nations and their people with whom we disagree. Just think of all the work-earned-and-paid taxes that went into that twenty trillion, instead of being used for all phases of the betterment of mankind. Truly, that has got to be, and will never ever be, a greater act of stupidity. Oppenheimer probably understood this, naming the goal, the elimination of war itself
People so often identify psychological strength with war and violence, with the macho man image Pete Hegseth neurotically is fixated upon.
One can also say there is also the psychological dynamic at work regarding the inherent "drama" of conflict, which always makes for an"interesting" - engaging story in literature, art, and film. And war, may be the ultimate conflict that has life and death consequences.
It is one thing to understand this psychological aspect of our humanity, how we actually can enjoy conflict in our stories and even in our games. But here is the irony: art and simulation of war, is not the same as the reality of war itself. Destruction and the evisceration of human lives is its end product. While you can walk away from a movie, and walk away from a book - you don't walk away from a real war.
This is where humanity needs to understand these psychological impulses, and grow up to manage them in a way that does not become self-destructive. It will require deeper psychological growth and understanding for the human race to progress.
Nuclear weapons employ a lot of people. We could capture this advantage without the downside (other than cost) by making nuclear weapons that don't work. Kind of like those pistols that when you fire them put out a flag that says "bang". Think of it. It would satisfy the MIC because the money would be spent. And the pacifists because there would be no danger. A win-win all around.
We could have "KABOOM" flags for higher-yield bombs and missiles.
Great idea, Alex.
I still maintain the US could get by with just one nuclear leg: https://believeandobey.net/one-nuclear-leg-is-all-we-need/.
Perhaps, given the dire ancillary threats from the release of nuclear weapons (nuclear winter, etc.), which are not stopped by national borders, the US could eliminate these weapons altogether, knowing the other side would be destroying themselves if they used them. At least if they used them en masse.
Either way a massive reduction in the US nuclear arsenal would make the US and the world safer.
Could excess testosterone be at the root of the problem? (missile envy)
Ironic, since it seems testosterone levels are at an all time low (in American men, anyway), due to our mostly unhealthy lifestyles and environmental degradation.
The Buddha, 2600 years ago, said Greed, Hatred, and Delusion were the three poisons in this world.
Sums it up pretty well centuries later.
Now a new nuclear arms race is sweeping the world, from Europe to Japan.
The Russian invasion kicked it off and now the US-Israeli war against Iran has put it in high gear.
Only days after the US-Israeli war against Iran began on February 28, Macron announced on March 2 a massive build-up of the French nuclear arsenal, followed by an agreement to extend the French nuclear umbrella over eight other European countries, and now with Norway, nine. And the Finnish parliament just voted to allow nuclear weapons to be stationed on Finnish soil.
On February 15, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, when asked in an interview about his position on initiating a Polish nuclear program, stated that “the path toward a Polish nuclear project, in full respect of all international regulations, is a path Poland should pursue.” Pressed further on whether “the Americans would allow it,” he replied that he “did not know, but that Poland should nevertheless move in this direction and begin preparatory work.”
If they say that in public it means the actual work is well underway.
The debate is growing in Germany, Sweden, Japan, South Korea and Australia to develop nuclear weapons programs.
Does anyone doubt that similar debates and moves are underway in Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and other medium regional powers. Any country with the technical capacity is undoubtedly considering or already beginning such programs.
Secret programs are already being developed.
The march towards war is unmistakable. Everywhere we look we see historic military build-ups.
There will be no "Cold War." That is historically precluded. This is driven by economics, and the main axis is the U.S. drive towards war against China begun fifteen years ago by Obama's Pivot to Asia in 2011, but there will undoubtedly be many other regional and proxy wars.
This preparatory period is akin to those that preceded WWI and WWII. Lots of jockeying for position and reevaluating options, and many "little" wars and skirmishes, indirect and direct.
And with the spectacular humiliating defeat of already-declining US imperialism by Iran, absolutely all bets are off over the coming months and years.
Every ruling class in every country is beginning to debate and reevaluate their positions as the post-WWII Pax Americana world order is rapidly unravelling. The American hegemon just took an unprecedented historic body blow.
Absolutely no one can predict how this will now unfold, other than the inevitably of wars.
This is interesting, but Sad, Aaron... DJT is turning out to be a Global Destructive Force...
Question, Bill: you said you see a Russian nuclear attack on Ukraine as the most immediate alarming scenario. Do you think the possibility of U.S. deployment of nukes, either on Iran or another Israeli enemy, is also of immediate concern? I'd like to think "no," but....
I'd put Russia first because Ukraine, helped by the U.S. and NATO members, is striking deep into Russia. What would happen if Putin was killed by a Ukrainian drone? His successor would want to send the strongest possible message against whichever country was most responsible.
The U.S. doesn't need to use nukes against Iran, and of course Israel has its own nukes to "defend" itself.
But who knows?
Hello Bill Astore... According to Reports, the Russian Masses, aka the 'Narood', are starting to Crack as the Ukrainian Resistance becomes Visible in Moscow... A 'ReVisit' of 1905, or 1917, is becoming possible...
Well, the sane ones of us know that the U.S. doesn't need to nuke Iran, but that completely excludes the rubber-room-worthy guy in the Oval. Rumor has it that he wanted to deploy nukes months ago, but Dan Caine said no.
I'm just a bit concerned that Bibi could goad Trumpy into something irreparably drastic.
Hello Denise... According to Mary Trump. DJT used to Fantasize about Nuclear Armageddon as a Child... DJT is now a 80yo Child... Of Course DJT's Hard-Core Evangelical Base Would Love It...
If there's a widespread nuclear war, the "elect" will rise into the heavens with their ashes mixed with everything and everyone else vaporized.
Oh, man, they'd HATE that!
They certainly would.
His childhood fantasies were apparently as warped as his adult ones are. And that's saying something!
Hello Denise... DJT's Dementia is Accelerating..... The DC GOP is still Cowardly... DJT 2.0 Strongest Motives are Greed, and Revenge... DJT may reach for Nukes to 'force' open the Strait of Hormuz... The other Gulf States will try to restrain DJT...
A terrifying scenario, Apache, but within the realm of possibility, I think.
A starting point is here: no-cost PDF download 65 page, The Incentivization of World Peace,
https://sun.iwu.edu/~rwilson/PNDclass.html Thanks, Bill !
Google Vasily Arkhipov, Stanislav Petrov, Able Archer 83, and pray and hope they are more of them.
AMEN!!
Filed under little men w/ big buttons: All your cans of baked pork & beans & bottled water, Iodine Pills will not save you in your backyard Fall -Out Shelter in the event of a "Total, Global Nuclear War!!"
Hello Bill Astore... This is a very Good Posting... So Far, Strategic, or Tactical Nuclear Weapons haven't been employed... They have been used as a Deterrent to Total War... The use of Tactical Nukes was Nixon's 'Secret Plan' in 1968... He was talked out of it by the JCS... Instead we got 1969, the bloodest year for the US Effort in the Vietnam War...