Who’s Got the Biggest Nuclear Arsenal?

There are over 20,000 nuclear weapons in the world and 6,000 of them are on alert 24/7. They are ready for launch in minutes or hours. All that’s needed is a command and the push of a button. Together, the United States and Russia hold more than 95% of the world’s total nuclear arsenal. Individually though, it is mighty Russia who has the world’s biggest number of nuclear weapons. Considering all nuclear warheads on their long-range missiles and aircraft, mid and short range systems and even the weapons they have in storage, they have a mind blowing estimated total of 14,000 nuclear bombs. The United States in comparison has a paltry estimated total of 5, 400. The amount of weapons seem so ludicrous as we feel compelled to ask, “why so many nuclear weapons”? The numbers become even more surreal when we consider that the third country with the biggest nuclear arsenal is France weighing in at only 350.

To put things into perspective, it would only take an attack of 30-50 strategically detonated multi-warhead nuclear missiles to drastically reduce the globe’s population. Those who didn’t die in the initial blast would later die by fallout, fires, radiation, contamination (food, water and land), and eventually, nuclear winter. If only one 20-megaton nuclear weapon were to explode on a city of about 3 million people, roughly 200 thousand people would survive the blast without injuries – that’s BEFORE radiation exposure and well before any nuclear winter began. You get the picture.

The disagreement between Russia and the United States is not to be treated lightly.

Let’s all be clear on one thing: Russia will NOT compromise, make any agreements or change their minds on the United States proposal for a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. They have every intention of deploying missile systems near Poland’s border if the US goes forward with its plans. Talks are no longer necessary here, folks. Russians come from the school of “actions speak louder than words”. Bombs now, talk later. The US approach of confidence building measures of allowing viewing of real time videos of activities at the missile sites has all but angered the Russians. (So much for Condi being an “expert” on Russian affairs and Russian history)!

The Russians have told us what they plan to do ahead of time so there won’t be any surprises or words of “we knew nothing of this” when nukes start flying. Consider yourself warned!