Nuclear-explosive fearmongering, revisited (was Awe comparing app

Guys, let's table the discussion of the relative horrors of nuclear vs. other kinds of warfare. It can't plausibly be related to SSI type research. On the other hand, how nuclear power fares against SPS power is certainly fair game for discussion.

Many Thanks,
Mike Combs
Moderator

So Hiroshima really was a whole lot worse than the fire-bombing of Tokyo or Dresden?

Just because radiation killed an additional relatively few people afterwards?

Michael McNeil

Have I got this right? In order to "promote" the nuclear power industry, you're arguing that having a nuclear bomb explode nearby isn't really so bad? And that Hiroshima (I always thought the H was capitalized) taught us that nuclear explosions inflicted previously unimagined horrors, especially related to the effects of radiation on civilian populations.

I guess that was just anti-nuclear hysteria.

> Please do note that nuclear plants are the next best
> (in my opinion) to massive space based solar power.
> On the other hand, read the end notes here:
> http://www.kuro5hin .org/story/ 2007/10/30/ 18253/301

Why? It contains implications that nuclear explosives are unusual in their destructive potential. This has long been known to be false, of course. Have you read Garwin?:
http://www.fas. org/rlg/20. htm

He notes that both chemical and biological terror weapons are more cost-effective and easier-to-obtain than nuclear.

The destructive effects of nuclear explosives have been exaggerated, both by their owners and by other conflicted parties. Please study every currently-archived post at the following blog before further commenting on, or making implications about, dangers or effects of nuclear explosives:
http://www.google. com/search? q=site:glasstone .blogspot. com

Adding hiroshima to that search returns insightful posts about the differences between bombing (a) a medieval tinderbox shanty town, and (b) a real city complete with real (e.g. concrete and steel) buildings.

A large cargo ship loaded with fertilizer is a half-megaton- yield bomb. Both the ship and the fertilizer are cheap and easy to obtain, and easy to place at desirable targets. A fertilizer ship seems to be neither sexy- nor ignorant- enough for a Clancy novel, though.