Re:Iran's top nuclear scientist believed assassinated by Mossad
by stunt on Saturday November 28, 2020 @09:32AM
(#25237710)
> If nobody had nuclear weapons the second world war would have lasted longer and the invasion of the Japanese mainland would have cost far more lives
Yes, that's what we were told. But, was it really necessary to bomb Japanese cities to show them force?
Re:Iran's top nuclear scientist believed assassinated by Mossad
by Yetanfou on Saturday November 28, 2020 @11:50AM
(#25238629)
Nagasaki was not necessary, Hiroshima ended the war. The war would have ended without it as well but the number of lives lost during an invasion would have been far greater than those lost during the bombings.
Nuclear weapons have kept the large powers from direct confrontation since the 50's, their existence has saved more lives than their use has cost. As long as they are not acquired by (in our eyes) irrational or suicidal actors they can be used for this purpose. As to whether a nuclear armed Iran would use them as a deterrent or otherwise - which includes providing nuclear weapons to third parties for use against common enemies - I can only guess. My guess is that a weakened theocracy - which is what Iran is - is an irrational actor and with that not to be trusted to "do the right thing".