Will there be a nuclear strike in your lifetime?

[brewer]

OP: this is so far off my radar of every day life concerns that I don't really care.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

My opinion is driven by Trump asking last year during a foreign policy briefing "If we have them, why can't we use them"?
And also the fact that once a president decides to launch nuclear weapons, there's no protocol for going back or, say, a general jumping in and stopping the whole thing. That only happens in the movies.
With a president who can't even control his own tweets I think there's, sadly, a possibility nuclear weapons will be launched against the US in my lifetime.

-Teresa

I heard the same thing said about Obama during the Eight of Hate. "He's so weak anybody would believe they could nuke us with impunity."

[Anomalocaris]

OP: this is so far off my radar of every day life concerns that I don't really care.

People reflexively underestimate the probability and the impact upon them of bad events with widespread consequences compare to those they perceive to be more particular to them. That's one reason why economic consequences of global warming seems a smaller threat than not being able to keep paying mortgages by digging up coal.

The chances of your dying in a car accident is probably substantially less than the chances of United States being nuked in your life time

[vorlon13]

I think the chances of an accidental detonation are higher than most folks appreciate, and as more players get in the game, the odds of one increase.  I note Pakistan's deployment scheme (if they are still doing it) is really lame, and even US and former Soviet devices might have components aging in unexpected ways . . .

You have experience in the field?

I know what an IND is.

I worked on some weapon related electronics for the Air Force back in the 80s.

LOL, and I watched American Experience: Command and Control . . .

[Anomalocaris]

My opinion is driven by Trump asking last year during a foreign policy briefing "If we have them, why can't we use them"?
And also the fact that once a president decides to launch nuclear weapons, there's no protocol for going back or, say, a general jumping in and stopping the whole thing. That only happens in the movies.
With a president who can't even control his own tweets I think there's, sadly, a possibility nuclear weapons will be launched against the US in my lifetime.

-Teresa

I heard the same thing said about Obama during the Eight of Hate. "He's so weak anybody would believe they could nuke us with impunity."

If you think everything you hear is similar in validity then your stupid is even more impressive than in my extremely generous estimates.

[tjakey]

Based on the irrational dweeb currently living in the White House, I voted "Yes". Sure hope I am wrong.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You have experience in the field?

I know what an IND is.

I worked on some weapon related electronics for the Air Force back in the 80s.

LOL, and I watched American Experience: Command and Control . . .

So that's a "no" then.

[vorlon13]

Go watch American Experience: Command and Control and then we can talk about INDs.

[Jackalope]

Any position I could take on this would seem.to be based on either wishful thinking or bias against the current administration.

I certainly hope that insanity doesn't rule the day.

[CapnAwesome]

Any position I could take on this would seem.to be based on either wishful thinking or bias against the current administration.

I certainly hope that insanity doesn't rule the day.

The US isn't the only one to have nuclear weapons. North Korea has them, Pakistan has them, the former Soviet Union doesn't even have them all accounted for. Trump or not, I'd say chances are better that a country not the US uses them first.

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OP: this is so far off my radar of every day life concerns that I don't really care.

50% of people here think there will be a nuclear strike in their lifetime. Seems like something you should think about at least a little.