India, Pakistan Exchange Shelling and War Threats; Six Dead

AP ^ | May 23, 2002 | Neelesh Misra

[Centurion2000]

What would happen in the USA if they do go nuke?

Nothing

How big are the bombs?

probably 30 kilotons up to about 5 Megatons

Would it affect our air/water?

Nope, they can dump their whole arsenals into each other and the US wont feel a thing .... China and SE Asia on the other hand might glow just a bit .... depends on if they are air bursts (countervalue) or ground bursts (counterforce)

[ASA Vet]

if Bin Laden is in Pakistan

It's been a slow day, your's is the only "Elvis Bin Laden" posting I've seen.

[hchutch]

I dunno, the thought of nuclear war gets me feeling a little jumpy. Particularly when you have a lot of bad blood gong back a long time as we have in this case.

With us and the Soviets, it was different. No animosity, just a desire to control the world.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Your question depends on if we side with India. Then China might just say the hell with it and liberate, er irradiate Wackofornia.

[swarthyguy]

Thanks for pointing out that even in the case of nuclear exhange, however terrible in loss of life, is not going to be the glowing pits so often alluded to. People forget the sheer volume of atmospeheric tests conducted by the US, USSR, France and China.

[Mitchell]

Most significantly though, if there is a nuclear exchange, the genie will be out of the bottle, so to speak. The first one is always the hardest. The next ones are easier. Or at least, no longer unthinkable.

That's an important point -- this isn't just about India and Pakistan.

[Mitchell]

Thanks for pointing out that even in the case of nuclear exhange, however terrible in loss of life, is not going to be the glowing pits so often alluded to.

There would be glowing pits inside major cities, presumably at least two, maybe more. (The effects of fallout elsewhere may or may not be significant; I don't know.) This isn't like the bomb tests you're talking about -- there will probably be cities with millions of people at ground zero.

[E Rocc]

Rather than seeking to defuse the crisis the US should be exploiting it. Pakistan needs to be convinced it is only days away from ceasing to be a nation. We should give no succor to Musharraf only tell him that if hostilities break out we will side with India and it won't just be diplomatic support.

Why should we side against a nation that has been a loyal ally throughout the Cold War and in the war against the Taliban, to favor a socialist nation that flirted with the Soviets and is run by its own brand of religious fanatics?

-Eric

[My2Cents]

"Elvis Bin Laden" ---

Afghanistan: a whole lota shaken goin' on.

[KC_Conspirator]

India has 1 billion people, more then the whole Muslims population combined, the second to China and soon, they will have more people then China, US should put heavily interest in India and forget Pakistan, they have been stabbing US in a back for too long.

I agree. I don't mind Musharraf, but its clear that there are tons of crazies in his country.