Nuclear Bombs In Vietnam Essay, Research Paper
What could happen if we used nuclear bombs in Vietnam during the War
Nuclear warfare is an issue that I don t fully agree with or am in favor of. I think there is
no need for nuclear weapons due to there mass destruction and world threatening affects. If these
weapons are incorrectly handled or fell into the wrong hands, the world as we know it could start
deteriorating.
Before I can explain to you, what could happen if we used nuclear bombs during the
Vietnam War, you must know the effects of their everlasting damage. There are few people that
have seen and survived a detonation of a single nuclear bomb. This goes to show that it doesn t
take a large number of these bombs to cause mass destruction.
When a nuclear bomb detonates there is an intense burst of light, just as fast a lightning
bolt, but a thousand times brighter. That light can cause temporary or permanent blindness if you
were looking that way. An enormous pulse of heat radiation follows, causing combustible material
to burst at a distance of 14 km. Paint and wood would go up in flames if they were as far away as
7 km. There is also an powerful pulse of deadly X-Rays that travels 3 km. If you were within the
3 km from the blast the X-Rays would of been a small factor in your death, because you would of
been killed by the blast itself. After the flash of bright light, a fireball arises from point of impact,
and rises for a couple of seconds. On a clear day, or night, people up to 80 km away, facing
towards the bomb, could also be temporarily or permanently blinded.
The last thing you should know about the detonation is the extremely powerful shockwave
that follows. The shockwave is so brutal it can destroy reinforced concrete buildings up to 2 km
away. While most houses made of wood and brick would be demolished if they were within 8 km.
There would be major damage to houses within 14 km, and a lot of broken windows as far out as
30 km. At 8 km about 50% of the people would of perished due to the blast.
I don t think the U.S. could of afford to use the nuclear bombs. If we chose to use the
nuclear bombs, the countries exporting to the U.S. would completely stopped or slowed trade.
The U.S. cannot survive on its own. We need other countries to replenish the wants and needs the
U.S. cannot provide.
Also the aftermath effects of the bomb could cause a worldwide increase in cancer, and
death. The radiation would contaminate once useful land, into land we may never use again. The
explosion would reek habit on hospitals, households, and government agencies. People would be
in chaos, they would not know what to do. Clean up after an explosion this enormous could take
years even decades. The destruction would be gigantic compared to what hurricanes and
earthquakes do in the U.S.
I think that if we chose to use nuclear bombs during that time, it would of make the U.S.
seem irresponsible. There would be many alternate solutions, than using the nuclear bombs. Why
jeopardize the world s noncurable health over one war. I feel that war leads to more war, riots,
chaos, and most important hatred. In the present day U.S., our country is overcoming racism,
sexism, and disrespecting each other. We should acknowledge and apply those same concepts the
U.S. takes to overcome its differences when trying to prevent war and hatred by making peace
with another nation.