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Hola,
I was recalling a while ago a conversation I had with a friend who studied international relations about 5 years ago, it was basically a hypothetical cold war scenario and we were trying to guess what would be the response. It's really something I do not have an answer for so I would like to see what you guys have to say about it.
Year: say, mid 80s
Situation:
For whatever reason, a conventional war erupts between NATO forces and Warsaw Pact forces in central europe. NATO gets its butt kicked, Germany is overrun, US forces in theater are either wiped out or forced to retreat, nothing apparently can stop the Soviets from marching into France as the French 1st Army has also been destroyed.
Knowing that Europe has fallen the US has decided it will not risk an all-out nuclear exchange with the USSR. Neither side has used nukes so far. However, the only option for France now is its nuclear capability as there is no way it will hold against the Soviets.
So, what will France do? Will it risk national suicide while only hoping to cause less than total damage to the USSR? IIRC France had around 100 warheads, most on subs, nothing compared to what the USSR could unleash. What would the US do if France used nukes? Would it use them too? (again risking national destruction although assuring the destruction of the USSR).
Bascially the premise behind the US not using nukes from the start is that as long as the US itself is safe, it will not committ suicide for saving Europe even if they can destroy the USSR in the process.
What do you think?
BTW: this is an intelligent debate thread, in other words, right-wing French-bashers bugger off if you have nothing to contribute
I was recalling a while ago a conversation I had with a friend who studied international relations about 5 years ago, it was basically a hypothetical cold war scenario and we were trying to guess what would be the response. It's really something I do not have an answer for so I would like to see what you guys have to say about it.
Year: say, mid 80s
Situation:
For whatever reason, a conventional war erupts between NATO forces and Warsaw Pact forces in central europe. NATO gets its butt kicked, Germany is overrun, US forces in theater are either wiped out or forced to retreat, nothing apparently can stop the Soviets from marching into France as the French 1st Army has also been destroyed.
Knowing that Europe has fallen the US has decided it will not risk an all-out nuclear exchange with the USSR. Neither side has used nukes so far. However, the only option for France now is its nuclear capability as there is no way it will hold against the Soviets.
So, what will France do? Will it risk national suicide while only hoping to cause less than total damage to the USSR? IIRC France had around 100 warheads, most on subs, nothing compared to what the USSR could unleash. What would the US do if France used nukes? Would it use them too? (again risking national destruction although assuring the destruction of the USSR).
Bascially the premise behind the US not using nukes from the start is that as long as the US itself is safe, it will not committ suicide for saving Europe even if they can destroy the USSR in the process.
What do you think?
BTW: this is an intelligent debate thread, in other words, right-wing French-bashers bugger off if you have nothing to contribute
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