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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Could a missile go into orbit around the earth?
« on: 09/07/2017 11:30:57 »"The opposition do/don't have nukes" isn't the only reason for going to war. Also, for that to work politically, it's best to have some evidence, however spurious, that the country is attempting to acquire nuclear weapons.One reason given for Margaret Thatcher going to war over the Falklands was that Argentina had no nuclear weapons.If "the opposition don't have nukes" is a reason for going to war, why did Galtieri (who didn't have them) attack the UK (who did)?
Also, it's not clear if N Korea having nukes makes them safer, or more of a target.
Galtieri observed that Thatcher had removed military protection from the Falklands to save money. He thought, probably correctly, that she had no interest in the Falklands, which Argentina had long claimed was its territory. It doesn't seem to have occurred to him that an expensive war to overturn the result of her saving money would make her very popular.
N Korea Korea developing nukes makes them less safe. They seem to be using mobile launchers, so once they have working ICBMS, the possibility of a single missile reaching an attacker's country would at least discourage pre-emptive defence.
Somewhat unrelated, some politicians in countries with even token nuclear defence, like Britain, like the prestige of being in the "nuclear club."
I originally posted because I thought that "immature and emotionally insecure" is a suitable description for pretty much everyone involved in "nuclear diplomacy."