To ask how long it will take to die if we do get nuked

[MagicalRealist]

Just this really. How quick? I know the warning, if there is one, will only be a few minutes so nowhere near enough time to get to school and be with DC. But when the bombs hit, is it just a flash of light and then oblivion? Or a longer scarier process? Obviously I hope none of this will actually happen.

Trump can't just unilaterally decide to nuke NK, or anywhere for that matter.

Silicon Valley billionaires are preparing bug-out places in NZ. With land, shelter, guns, food, independent water supply etc. I read an article on it. I'm sure we'll hear when there's a mass exodus of the prepper billionaires to NZ... that's when you worry.

Yes he can unfortunately

He needs approval to declare war.

However, he can launch a nuke without any checks or balances in place. It is the least restricted power he holds.

However, it's unlikely that would be his first course of action rather than conventional military action via the correct channels.

But he can decide to unilaterally nuke anywhere he likes. It's very unlikely but there is actually nothing to stop him should the mood take him.

He'll never remember the codes.

Fingers crossed Computer :)

"he can launch a nuke without any checks or balances in place. It is the least restricted power he holds."

Okay, now that raises my anxiety to defcon 1!

(Yes I am genuinely anxious, but I know it is unreasonable and do best when I make light!)

if the USA got nuked how would the UK change/affect us??

Well, as they and us are in NATO, don't we pretty much "have to" join in, in their defence?

Depends how many bombs sea

A small scale exchange where only USA and NK were targeted and we would be fine in terms of radiation / no nuclear winter etc.

But the global economy would collapse etc, along with global stability

Trump doesn't need to remember the codes. He will get Siri to do it.

'Siri, who was that guy in the north who made a career by playing the Uke ?'

'north career uke............ missiles on the way Donald'

I think Beyond it depends on who strikes first and what approvals etc. I'm not sure though

catgirl the scenario you've described is exactly what I'm dreading.

But realistically op there are many opinions about this.

No one knows what is going to happen. History tells us the most likely scenario is that all will be fine.

It's what's waking me up at 4am every morning in a cold sweat Magical :(

I just keep praying I'm wrong and there are grown ups in charge really

There is a bit of a 'fail safe' in the US nuclear policy. The president can order it, but the order must be confirmed via a second nuclear code by the Sect'y of Defense before an actual launch is done. This is to stop an insane president from willy nilly ordering a nuclear strike. Technically the Pres could then fire the SoD and start working his way through the cabinet to the Joint Chiefs of Staff until he did find someone to sign off on the launch but that would give enough time to get a crazy president OUT of the Oval Office.

I don't think there's much likelihood of anyone agreeing to Trump's launching a nuke anywhere based on today's world situation. IMO if NK did actually launch a nuke they'd find themselves obliterated via more conventional weapons or targeted small nukes, civilian casualties notwithstanding.

At this point, all we can do is live our lives. If the worst should happen I'd want to know I'd had the most happiness out of my life that I could and that I'd loved my family well. Whether we live 5 more years or 55 more years, what more could we want than that?

Across, I don't suppose you'd move in with me for a bit and tell me all of that every time I wake up in a cold sweat would you? I can provide wine and cake

North Korea's regime is all about survival. They won't actually risk that fragile prospect by declaring nuclear war on pretty much the rest of the world. If they struck the US first they'd be wiped off the map. Donald Trump is the wild card so let's hope he's impeached pretty soon...

Hurry up Muller

See, I'm not worried. I grew up in the 70s and 80s and we were completely convinced Reagan would press the red button and there would be a nuclear war. It didn't particular concern us - it doesn't bother you as a teen who thinks they are immortal.

Half the stuff we read, the films, the music were all based on a nuclear war. I was totally convinced I would survive a nuclear winter in the style of Z for Zachariah. (Although obviously now I'm post menopausal no creepy bloke would be wanting to have sex with me to re-populate the planet)

I can't bear the thought of my children growing up having to fight to survive, or dying badly. That does wake me up in a cold sweat.

This is to stop an insane president from willy nilly ordering a nuclear strike

actually this -is- reassuring. Although it's a bit unnerving that it seems to be so necessary to have this back-up at the moment ...

I wonder how he passes it on to his successor? imagines it written down in a bit of paper in his desk drawer (j/k)

As Pond describes, firing nuclear missiles is deliberately a faff. It's not just a case of booting up a PC and remembering a password or two. Trump can't go off on one and order a nuclear strike in the same way I can go off on one after too many shandies and order a load of shite off of eBay.

Have you read children of the dust?

As ridiculous as it may be, I keep thinking of WWZ (book not film) where NK have mahoosive bunkers built into mountains. Then imagine them starting off MAD while they wait it out inside...