Why People Are Concerned About Nuclear War
There have been a lot of changes in the world during the past month, and one of the biggest changes has been the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even though Russia is calling this attack a special military operation, it is obvious that this is a war. It is the largest land war in Europe since World War Two, and it is the first time that one member of the United Nations has tried to wipe another member of the United Nations off the map.
Given the assault on Ukraine, a lot of people are wondering if NATO is going to get involved. Led by the United States, NATO has a policy where an attack on one member state is seen as an attack on all.
Even though Ukraine is not a member of NATO, it was trying to join NATO before Russia invaded it. Indeed, this could have been the impetus for Russia’s invasion. Given the possibility of NATO forces going to war against Russia, many people are concerned about the prospect of nuclear war. Vladimir Putin is not exactly seen as someone who is stable, and he recently put his nuclear forces on high alert.
Where Could Nuclear Weapons Land?
Many people are having flashbacks to the Cold War, while some people are going through something like this for the first time. Given that many people are very concerned about the prospect of nuclear war, some people are wondering where these bombs could fall. There are several targets that are generally included in the first round of nuclear assaults. Many people believe that large population centers with a significant cultural impact are usually the first ones to be targeted, but typically, countries target areas of strategic value. Therefore, some of the targets that might be hit include:
-Bases that have nuclear missiles in them -Command and control centers that are responsible for communication -Places that hold submarines or planes that can carry nuclear missiles to another place -Depots and storage centers for nuclear munitions
If one country is able to take out all of the nuclear infrastructure required to launch nuclear weapons, they have effectively won the war.
What States Include These Targets?
So, what does that mean for places within the United States? Some of the states that could be hit by a nuclear weapon include:
-Maine -Washington DC -Missouri -Nebraska -Wyoming -North Dakota -Montana -Washington State -New Mexico -Louisiana -Hawaii
It is very difficult for someone to strike all of the nuclear targets within the United States because there are so many of them and they are so well defended; however, it is important for people who live in these areas to understand what might happen in the event of a nuclear war. Again, it is still highly unlikely, as all efforts will be made to deescalate the conflict to prevent a nuclear war. Ultimately, if nuclear weapons are fired, then there is a good chance that everyone has lost.