I like this topic, so here's my 2p.
1st of, the reason we have nukes is to keep the peace, and any doubters of that can look at the cold war.
Fact, During the cold war Russia had about 17000 nukes, the USA had about 13000. Big huge numbers, but that was the point. They used MAD - Mutually Assured Destruction. If either Russia or the USA initially lauched a nuke the other country could wipe the floor with it's surviving nukes. I.E BOTH COUNTRIES WOULD BE ForKED! and why it is a detereant. This is the case with nuclear powers still having stock piles of nukes. It is pointless to say that we should get rid of them all, because alien nations (and thats exactly what they are) have completely different goals or imperial ambitions (pointing a finger here to China).
Over here in Britain we have 400 nukes. Most of the strategical ones (of which there are 200) are built into the hills. You would never be able to see them. The reason I know this is because my dad was the joiner (or carpenter depending on where you come from) during the construction of the gates covering them. These are made of solid wood then covered in concreate. Above that soil covers the hatch and grass is left to grow back over it. Result - noone knows it's there. When they go to lauch the nukes the internal wooden gate is opened by explosives and pushes the soil and concreate into the air, then the missile is lauched. Pretty neat ehh?
The other 200 nukes are tacticle warheads mostly kept on our trident submarines. No-one can detect them once submerged, not even the Americans and thats the good part about that plan. Again it works on MAD. Our Trident submarines mostly patrol Chinese and Russian waters so if they ever decide to have a ball with there nukes, we can retaliate imidiately and so keeps the peace.
With respect to China (someone mentioned it before), they have nukes, they have openly said that they want to challenge America. There Economy is booming and they have far more natrual resources than America. There population is five times greater and they do have a Imperialistic and Comunist goverment. Now what do you think is going to happen? There Military is also rapidly advancing have a look at the Type -98 tanks, better than the USA's Abrihams and the UK's Challenger II's. There new targeting gear on there fighter planes are also far more advanced than the F16s'. A lot of you will not believe, but go and have a wee look.
It doesn't cost China anywhere near the amount it costs the USA or the UK to upkeep it's military. This is mostly due to low labour pay.
I'm not Anti-American, but America is not invinsible, and the people at the top know it. They know that China is a huge power and it is only a question of when, and not if, they become a super power to rival the USA. Hence the reason for the USA's continued military advancement and space conquest.
Look into the past. At one point Britian was the Super Power not to mess with. No other country in the world had increased it's wealth and such a rate while still financing a global war (and financing other countries, notably Prussia Austria and Germany) with Napoleons empire. That so easily went down the drain during the 1st and 2nd World Wars and now look what Britian is today - back to being a spit in the ocean.
Nations rise and fall, it's always been that way, but for us in the west, I don't think the futures that bright. Hence the need for the nukes. I just hope us Brits and Americans are still brothers in arms, I think Chinese would be a difficult language to learn
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