How long does the US have?

[lookout123]

Originally Posted by classicman

Never, The US will resort to nukes before it let's go and loses it's power.

No, the use of nukes (or any other WMD) will only happen (IMO) under two scenarios.

1) A nation on the rise. They don't have much to lose and a lot to gain. The government is still relatively fluid and unchecked. They don't have a lot of national guilt weighing on their souls to cause decision makers to think "what will the voters think?" It is sort of like a teenager in that it has some amazing new power and strength but not the maturity to realize that real strength comes from not only relying on physical ability.

2) A religious/ethnic fanatic run government. The central theme/belief/identity is so overwhelmingly important that there is no sacrifice too great if it will further the cause. Popularity, acceptance, approval does not even weigh into the equation. If wiping 200 million people off the face of the earth will solidify or further the cause, then it is worth it.

The US is already past the first scenario. Our politicians are driven by polling numbers and dreams of legacy. They wouldn't want to smudge their good name by ordering mass destruction. They know that the US citizenry doesn't have the stomach for it.

The US won't get to the second scenario because we'll never have an ethnic or religious identity that ties us all together again. Those days are gone and won't be back.