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Nuclear stockpile - Correct Answer--We have second largest stockpile
of nuclear weapons, behind Russia, many other countries have built
theirs up but no one has used them.
Nuclear weapons too destructive (?) - Correct Answer--US hasn't
walked away from war with victory since WWII, but we have weapons
to win, so why haven't we used them?
-Military-industrial complex has allowed for major powers to build
standardized weapons which are more destructive than ever before,
and that constantly repeats.
-Over time, seen increase in capacity to destroy.
-Every weapon is destructive, so it's not just because nuclear weapons
are destructive. All weapons are designed for that purpose.
WWII bombings - Correct Answer--In WWII, we carried out bomb
campaign against Germany with traditional bombs and firebombs.
Dresden, about 30,000 people died from firebombs. 50,000 in
Hamburg. 120,000 in Tokyo.
,Daisycutter - Correct Answer--Allows bomb to blow up before impact.
No destructiveness is taken away by impact, makes it even more
damaging.
MOAB - Correct Answer--Most destructive traditional bomb.
Battlefield utility (Not using nuclear weapons) - Correct Answer--Some
say we don't use nuclear bombs because they don't have battlefield
utility. Not why, because that's where everyone thought artillery was
going after WWII, thermonuclear weapons.
-We have tactical nuclear weapons that make them useful on the
battlefield.
Moral issues with nuclear weapons - Correct Answer--Maybe it's
because nuclear weapons are seen as morally wrong. Something
different than conventional weapons.
-This idea has become universal.
The Nuclear Taboo - Correct Answer--Developed by Nina Tannenwald
-It's taboo to use nuclear weapons or even mentioning using them.
That's why it's so shocking when North Korea says they're going to
use them.
Development of the nuclear taboo - Correct Answer--This taboo
coming about has been a process. In 1945, no one knew how
,destructive the bombs were. In immediate aftermath of WWII, 80% of
American public agreed with our use of the atomic bombs in Japan.
-Tensions were still high at this point, Japan had attacked Pearl
Harbor. Japanese were a tough opponent not prone to surrender. So,
bombs seemed to be way to shorten the war and save a lot of lives.
-Then again, took us a lot of time to really see the effects of the
bombs. Hiroshima impact death total was 70,000. By the end of 1945,
has doubled to 140,000. By 1950, has risen to 200,000.
-Bombing in general is destructive, but the increasing toll after
Hiroshima showed atom bomb's difference from other bombs. They
kept killing because of radiation. Also birth defects from radiation.
-Radiation kept killing the Japanese even when we were no longer at
war with them. Also fear of atmospheric contamination with nuclear
fallout.
-Because of these things, opinions began to shift. Instead of being
seen as next step in weaponry, began to see nuclear weapons as
wrong. This became the global norm.
Global norm (towards nuclear weapons) - Correct Answer--So, we
don't use nuclear weapons because global norm had developed that
viewed them as immoral. They were put in a taboo category.
Beginning of cold war - Correct Answer--Taboo development was
taking place in beginning of Cold War. 1949, Soviets tested first
nuclear weapon. GB followed in 1952, French after them, China in
1956.
, -We became equally matched to destroy each other, fostered terror
for citizens.
MacArthur - Correct Answer--Wanted to use nuclear weapons in 1950
-Truman said no and fired him.
Backlash against weapons (that kill indiscriminately) - Correct Answer-
-After WWII there was backlash against weapons that seemed to kill
indiscriminately through several conventions (Geneva, etc.). Efforts to
ban biological and chemical weapons.
Control of nuclear weapons - Correct Answer--Only weapon that the
president and not the military controls.
Biological weapons convention - Correct Answer--1972, Poison gas
had already been banned but other bio weapons were banned
-Sought to eradicate use of biological weapons, as they saw them as
immoral and indiscriminate when it came to killing.
Chemical weapons convention - Correct Answer--1993
-Sought to eradicate use of chemical weapons, as they saw them as
immoral and indiscriminate when it came to killing.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) - Correct Answer--Effort to
control these nuclear weapons. Not effort to ban, just control.