Yeah, the point dsfyu404ed is making remains the same. In fact, I'd wager that in practice, there likely is no yield at which a nuclear warhead would not evoke an immediate nuclear response.
I mean, just thinking about it from my American point of view: If we get hit by a nuclear warhead, you can try to rationalize it away all you like by saying, "Now bilbo0s, don't get angry. It was only 5kt." Sorry, maybe I'm too vindictive, but I'm still gonna want the President to respond in kind. Immediately.
I think the only way you don't get a nuclear response, is that the country you hit is not capable of delivering a nuclear response. Even then, I mean, are the other countries with nuclear weapons just gonna wait for you to come after them? I don't think so. You just proved that you would use nuclear weapons. (Against people without nuclear armaments no less.) I just think that if, say, China or the US were to do that, it would alter the entire foreign policy environment in which they operate.
Again, maybe I'm just the type who holds too much of a grudge and most people wouldn't retaliate? But I wouldn't bet on it.
> I'm still gonna want the President to respond in kind.
Probably shouldn't take it upon myself to speak for all humanity but I think that's a universal response. Everyone wants revenge. But are they going to get it immediately? No need to guess, we already know what the US government will do when a foreign actor commits mass murder on US soil.
"We will respond at a time, place and manner of our own choosing and not be forced into knee-jerk responses."
An attack will precipitate a meticulously planned response where the US has considered all the angles and stacked the deck to ensure that it achieves the best possible outcome. I don't think the mechanism used for the attack (nuclear) makes a difference.
I mean, just thinking about it from my American point of view: If we get hit by a nuclear warhead, you can try to rationalize it away all you like by saying, "Now bilbo0s, don't get angry. It was only 5kt." Sorry, maybe I'm too vindictive, but I'm still gonna want the President to respond in kind. Immediately.
I think the only way you don't get a nuclear response, is that the country you hit is not capable of delivering a nuclear response. Even then, I mean, are the other countries with nuclear weapons just gonna wait for you to come after them? I don't think so. You just proved that you would use nuclear weapons. (Against people without nuclear armaments no less.) I just think that if, say, China or the US were to do that, it would alter the entire foreign policy environment in which they operate.
Again, maybe I'm just the type who holds too much of a grudge and most people wouldn't retaliate? But I wouldn't bet on it.