If a nuclear bomb were to go off, why would we retaliate?

Question

Let's say that russia were to accidently or purposely (who knows) fire a missile at us, why would we retaliate with another missile? I mean, every gov't knows how deadly they are and could potentially destroy the world, Why would we retaliate? I'm saying, if they wanted to protect the people of the free world why would they just ensure our death by becoming angry and firing bombs?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Good question. I think it has to do with how the bombs are strategically placed. If we could fire off enough bombs that would decimate enough of their cities before they could damage more than one of ours, then we'd have the upper hand & they could back down.

Answer 2

It's all sick and twisted, I know. I think it wouldn't destroy the world, (not immediately, at least) but returning the love would damage an enemy willing to throw the first super-lethal punch. I mean, there has to be a consequence for making such a selfish decision.

I think when the U.S. dropped nuclear missles on Japan, it was unbelievable horrible, but may have actually been justified. I hate to say it, tho. It wasn't unprovoked, it wasn't due to political tension, it was to end a useless war that would've been dragged on forever.

I can't believe people can do that to one another.

Answer 3

wre america, we dont take c**p from nobody

Answer 4

this is why your question is absurd: In the first sentence, you set up a scenario where "Russia" fires a supposed nuclear missile at the U.S. then in the same sentence, you say 'accidentally or purposely" well, which is it...the result of an accident or an act of war? Two scenarios the opposite of each other, which makes the outcome of such action so distinct it requires two different scenarios. Let's suppose the Russians have decided to destroy San Diego as an act of agression. You make the point that all the commanders of our defense forces, all the authority figures in our government, are not as intelligent, nor do they have your sophisticated ethics. Your point is, the entire world should watch news footage of 1 million people burned to death in San Diego, marvel at the destructive powers of such a weapon, and then be grateful that the U.S. did not fire weapons in return. Without any deterrent, the U.S. must wait for further missile launches and be prepared to deal with 20 million casulaties. Perhaps they should surrender to the will of Putin...why not? Why shouldn't any nation just surrender to the threats of another? misguided philosophy, not as developed as those of the x-box crazed, tv mad, sugar blasted teens and 20 somethings? perhaps. The problem with this type of thinking is lack of reading...and not harry potter fantasies either. if you must read fiction, start with ian fleming's thunderball

Answer 5

If a Russian nuke were detonated in the US, then Russia would have to answer for that, and we wouldn't go to the UN to get resolutions to accomplish that.  We'd retaliate in kind and prepare an invasion to detain Putin and Medvedev.

Answer 6

Because people have agreed that it's a bad idea to launch only one of your missiles and invite retaliation. Since nobody really wants to be retaliated on they'll launch a whole bunch. After we see a bunch coming at us we'll get pissed so we'll launch ours too to make sure they get messed up as bad as our country.

Answer 7

It's because no government wants to show how weak they are so they would retaliate. It also because there people would expect it.

Answer 8

Who is they, russia or the US?

The missile shield we're installing in Poland will block any nuclear exchanges

Answer 9

Its about time we stop pushing the Russians into a corner. With nothing to lose they might just march into Poland on grounds of national security reasons, send some warships with nukes to the Persian Gulf sign some pact with Iran and Syria to install some nuke missile bases, train their troops, orchestrate an attack on Kuwait or Saudi Arabia and take their oil fields. Keep pushing and it will become a reality.

Sounds horrible doesn't it but thats what the US are doing right now or trying anyway.  

Answer 10

Its hard to say that is Top Secret information, if someone claims to know they would be arrested for giving away state secrets

Answer 11

Our government has to find out what happened first before sending such a bomb. Also, if an attack on America is done by Russia, NATO would respond with its own nuclear arsenal and military forces towards Russia.

"An attack on any NATO country is an attack on all."

Answer 12

You are right. Let's have Obama call them and tell them they get a free shot at US. This is why Libs are scary.

Answer 13

The government might only be saying they'd retaliate so that Russia or China don't do it anyway.. Would you want other governments, especially communists, to know you wouldn't throw one back? The USA would of been destroyed in the mid '50's...

It's been a common thing in wars to retaliate, never has the United States ever let anything by, but it's unknown as to whether they would take out the other half...

Governments suck..

Answer 14

Thats why it's called Mutually Assured Destruction.

Cause it's MAD

Answer 15

So your saying that if we were in fact hit with a nuke from Russia we should just sit quietly as the nuclear fallout dissolves the very lives we hold dear?

Answer 16

It really wouldn't matter if it was on purpose or on accident, the retaliation would begin before that could be sorted out in any case. We would retaliate because we wouldn't want to just sit there and take it. This is tantamount to asking, "why did the Allies fight back against the Axis when they knew that it would lead to many casualties?".

Would you blame the Russians for firing first (whether on purpose or not), or would you blame the US for firing retaliatory missiles?

If they actually did get in a position to fire one accidentally (I seriously doubt it), then that would show that they don't have the responsibility to be a nuclear power.

Answer 17

i guess its about who has the "bigger balls"

Answer 18

Because we can. Duh.