While the use of nuclear weapons in an offensive capacity might seem unthinkable today, the USA has yet to endure significant economic hardship. $15/gallon gasoline from the next Peak Cheap Oil price shock coupled with 15% treasury yields and a government operating in crisis mode just to hold off systemic financial collapse in the face of rampant inflation would change the mood considerably. All the USA has to do in order to secure an unlimited supply of $50/bbl imported oil is to threaten to nuke any country refusing to sell oil to the U.S. for that price. Unthinkable today, but in times of national crisis, morals are often the first thing to be forgotten. We like to tell ourselves that we would never allow economic hardship to cause us to lose our morals. But just look at the YouTube videos of riots at Wal-Mart over nothing more than contention over a limited supply of boxer shorts marked down 20% for Black Friday. What we’ll do in a true crisis that threatens our very way of life is anyone’s guess. If faced with the choice between a Soviet-style economic collapse and abusing its military power, the USA just might resort to tactics previously thought unimaginable. Exactly what those tactics might be and how it would play out are unknowable. The point is, this is a very complex problem, and a wide array of factors including military capability will play a role in determining the ultimate outcome.
the use of nuclear weapons might seem unthinkable today, the USA has yet to endure significant hardship the next Oil shock coupled with a government operating in crisis mode just to hold off systemic financial collapse would change the mood considerably All the USA has to do is threaten to nuke any country refusing to sell oil to the U.S. for that price Unthinkable today, but in times of national crisis, morals are the first thing to be forgotten What we’ll do in a true crisis that threatens our very way of life is anyone’s guess If faced between a Soviet-style economic collapse and abusing its military power, the USA just might resort to tactics previously thought unimaginable military capability will play a role in determining the ultimate outcome