Trump Has Complete Authority to Order Nuclear Attack

[SoLongAtlas]

No order, if given by POTUS, would be refused by the military, esp. a nuclear strike (esp. retaliatory). If it was refused, the OIC refusing said order would be removed from command and held for court martial on refusing a lawful order from the CINC.

[Anna Komnene]

There hasn't been a nuclear strike since '45 because the USA and the USSR/RF have been operating per MAD. MAD doesn't apply to a rogue, unpredictable state like NK.

There's a problem with this logic though that there isn't any objective definition of a "rogue, unpredictable state." When the Soviet Union was involved in the Cuban missile crisis, the outcome for that situation was pretty much by all accounts far from predictable. I'm not saying that it's impossible that North Korea might do something, but it's not like that's something new in world history. Plus, there are some pretty good arguments analyzing North Korea's history to suggest that they have actually acted rationally from their point of view.

[SoLongAtlas]

There hasn't been a nuclear strike since '45 because the USA and the USSR/RF have been operating per MAD. MAD doesn't apply to a rogue, unpredictable state like NK.

There's a problem with this logic though that there isn't any objective definition of a "rogue, unpredictable state." When the Soviet Union was involved in the Cuban missile crisis, the outcome for that situation was pretty much by all accounts far from predictable. I'm not saying that it's impossible that North Korea might do something, but it's not like that's something new in world history. Plus, there are some pretty good arguments analyzing North Korea's history to suggest that they have actually acted rationally from their point of view.

Point taken with the CMC but even then the Soviets wouldn't jump from 0 to 100 like DPRK does on a frequent basis. A country that orders an op review for an enveloping fire attack because of actions of another state that "gets on its nerves" is not a rational state. I uploaded NK's official statement from the news source, image below.

[SoLongAtlas]

I would add that even the Soviets didn't put out bs like that. Krushchev said "we will crush you" but he meant economically and that isn't as bad as the frequent nonsense/half-serious statements put out by the KPA or NK State News.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Yes. Although Congress voting on the matter probably isn't realistic in the event of an actual nuclear war, or even a severe crisis, at the very least, the President, Secretary of Defense, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should all have to agree to use nuclear weapons. A No First Use Policy would be best.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Preemptive nuclear strikes yes , if nukes are launched at us or our allies by another country no.

This.

This, and I might add that unless it's a surprise attack against us or our allies we must have formally declared war.

I would amend that to , anytime a president wants to use force (even conventional weapons )against another country , congress must have declared war first unless your responding to an invasion or imminent attack on our country or our allies

[emailking]

Hell no per his operational authority as CINC. This move to take it away is BLATANTLY unconstitutional. Trump or not, POTUS is still CINC. What happens if Congress is taken out and no one is there to vote? Fn dumb-wits.

Yes, it's pretty much renders U.S. nuclear detterent useless.

That doesn't make it unconstitutional. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war. There isn't an exception about whether we've been attacked first.

Congress has delegated a lot of its war making authority to the President, and so right now the President has the authority to launch a nuclear attack in a wide variety of scenarios. But that doesn't mean Congress can't take that authority back. Whether or not it's a good idea is a separate question. And again, the current attempts to restrict Trump only apply to a pre-emptive nuclear strike anyway.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Preemptive nuclear strikes yes , if nukes are launched at us or our allies by another country no.

     Not sure how feasible this is, but like many other posters in this thread its the option that makes the most sense to me.

[Silent Hunter]

I would add that even the Soviets didn't put out bs like that. Krushchev said "we will crush you" but he meant economically and that isn't as bad as the frequent nonsense/half-serious statements put out by the KPA or NK State News.

It was "we will bury you" in the sense of that "you're going to die before us".

[Daniel909012]

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/346030-graham-trump-doesnt-need-congresss-approval-for-north-korea-strike

[krazen1211]

No, Congress cannot dictate the usage of weapons. Too bad about that pesky Constitution!

[Bismarck]

Preemptive nuclear strikes yes , if nukes are launched at us or our allies by another country no.

I mostly agree with this.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

No, Congress cannot dictate the usage of weapons. Too bad about that pesky Constitution!

But the constitution literally says... nevermind 

[Illiniwek]

Preemptive nuclear strikes yes , if nukes are launched at us or our allies by another country no.

This.

This, and I might add that unless it's a surprise attack against us or our allies we must have formally declared war.

I would amend that to , anytime a president wants to use force (even conventional weapons )against another country , congress must have declared war first unless your responding to an invasion or imminent attack on our country or our allies

Sounds good to me.

[SoLongAtlas]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  39 minutes ago
 Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely.  Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!

Giving KJU the final warning.

[TheSaint250]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  39 minutes ago
 Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely.  Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!

Giving KJU the final warning.

Good. Hopefully Kim avoids doing something extremely stupid in the end.

[BudgieForce]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  39 minutes ago
 Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely.  Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!

Giving KJU the final warning.

Good. Hopefully Kim avoids doing something extremely stupid in the end.

Hopefully we avoid doing something extremely stupid in the end.