Posted on 04/19/2021 9:09:20 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
"#USSTRATCOM Posture Statement Preview: The spectrum of conflict today is neither linear nor predictable. We must account for the possibility of conflict leading to conditions which could very rapidly drive an adversary to consider nuclear use as their least bad option."
Thanks for the heads-up, U.S. Stratcom!
A nuclear exchange would be survivable for most. I-131 decays out very quickly (a few days), and slower decaying elements (e.g., cesium) aren’t dangerous unless ingested and soon wash away with rain and sink into soil. There are quite a few sites and books with instructions for surviving fallout. Most long range nuclear weapons are very low yield now due to improved accuracy (better for the environment).
The only weapons now that would generate much fallout would be cratering devices (ground bursts), which would be aimed at remote military facilities and very long airstrips suitable for bombers. Air bursts would generate much less fallout.
I bet their declaration of an unpredictable environment won’t change the amount of money they have budgeted or staff billeted for predicting things.
Maybe the masks will serve a useful purpose after all.
The Trident D5 tosses around W88 warheads at 475kt.
That long range missile has big warheads.
And the Russians have big ones too.
I suspect China as well.
“Question: Which defcon level is good and which level is bad?
Answer: Level 5 is a state of peace and is a good thing, while Level 1 is a state of war or imminant nuclear threat and a very bad thing.”
Oh, okay. I see.
“The spectrum of conflict today is neither linear nor predictable.”
Since militaries suck at responding to nonlinear and unpredictable things this is very bad news. The most nonlinear and unpredictable thing in the US military is the chain of command.
Tell that to the Japanese those weak bombs went off at 1850ft above the ground.
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