Thread: How Would The U.S. Respond To A Chemical Weapon Attack On U.S. Troops?

Say in a future war, a renewed Korean conflict perhaps, the North Koreans attack U.S. (and ROK) troops with several hundred chemical weapons (nerve gas).

How would the U.S. respond? I know the U.S. claims that it would respond with nuclear weapons to such an attack as chemical weapons are considered WMDs, but does anyone really think the U.S. is going to start hitting the North Koreans with a bunch of 10-50 kiloton warheads just because of a chemical attack?

Not to mention the South Koreans and Japanese would probably object to any first use of nuclear weapons by the U.S. regardless of the circumstances.

so short of nuclear weapons, how does the U.S. respond to a chemical attack?

The problem there is that the US has said that it will respond to attacks by WMD with nukes and if the US doesn't then it opens the door for countries to hit the US.

Originally Posted by Panzerkampfwagen

The problem there is that the US has said that it will respond to attacks by WMD with nukes and if the US doesn't then it opens the door for countries to hit the US.

Do you really think the U.S. would though?

Is an American president really going to order the first use of nuclear weapons in 67 years just because a few thousand American troops were attacked by nerve gas halfway around the world?

um....they will dawn their MOPP 3 gear

I'd turn the hypothetical country into a thing of the past and wipe it from the map.

Its not as if a biological attack is a big deal for American troops. Each soldier is equipped with protective gear and can operate in a contaminated area if needed. Also chemically trained units are capable of dealing with any known threat in a timely manner and establishing counter measures

As to whether it would open the door to nuclear strikes is another question entirely. I believe that it would be an option but given the tenuous political situation with the rest of the world it would most likely be passed over for other less extreme measures.

All in all, a successful biological attack is extremely difficult to execute. There are to many variables and natural detractors to make it a very effective weapon. There would be talks of using nuclear devices. Since nuclear devices destroy much more than just life as biological weapons the U.S. cannot afford to set a precedent of greater than equal retaliation. So no, I don't believe the would be used. Whether or not the should be used is another question that I don't have an answer for....

At least that's my opinion, and I've been wrong about lesser things.

Originally Posted by F4lln

Its not as if a biological attack is a big deal for American troops. Each soldier is equipped with protective gear and can operate in a contaminated area if needed. Also chemically trained units are capable of dealing with any known threat in a timely manner and establishing counter measures

As to whether it would open the door to nuclear strikes is another question entirely. I believe that it would be an option but given the tenuous political situation with the rest of the world it would most likely be passed over for other less extreme measures.

All in all, a successful biological attack is extremely difficult to execute. There are to many variables and natural detractors to make it a very effective weapon. There would be talks of using nuclear devices. Since nuclear devices destroy much more than just life as biological weapons the U.S. cannot afford to set a precedent of greater than equal retaliation. So no, I don't believe the would be used. Whether or not the should be used is another question that I don't have an answer for....

At least that's my opinion, and I've been wrong about lesser things.

I said nothing about biological weapons.

Chemical weapons! Chemical weapons!!

Originally Posted by Dayton3

I said nothing about biological weapons.

Chemical weapons! Chemical weapons!!

NBC is NBC. one is as good as the other.

America has proven time and time again it is more than willing to react to attacks with brute force and overwhelming superiority. They will go to war and if China intervenes it will be a nuclear holocaust.

Originally Posted by mikezila

NBC is NBC. one is as good as the other.

Except the OP SPECIFIED "chemical" weapons and the U.S. response.

Not nuclear. Not biological.