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Personally, I think it would be a very bad idea to use nuclear weapons in this conflict. There are a couple of reasons for my point of view:

1. Radiation, in the form of wind-borne fallout, has a way of not respecting borders. Do we really want to contaminate countries not involved?

2. Given our dominating position, militarily, nuclear response is unnecessary to the sucessful completion of our goals.

3. Regardless of what some on FR believe, we still must coexist as a nation on this planet of many nations. International response to the preemptive use of nuclear arms would result in condemnation by many nations we still consider to be friends.

It is my belief that nuclear weapons should be reserved for strikes in response to the use or immediate potential of use by an enemy. No other use seems acceptable to me.

But that's just my personal opinion. No doubt others will feel differently.

Agree completely- I was ready to post essentially the same points, but I'm glad read the entire thread first.

Also, the poster seems to believe that our use of nuclear weapons would make no difference to the attitudes of the countries that "like" us (actually, countries do not have likes and dislikes, only national interests)- but what do you think would be the reaction of the Japanese people if we did this??? Not good.

That said, I don't know that we won't do it if WMD's are used on American soil. Right after 9/11, I was ready to push the button myself...