Would Obama's big nuke idea weaken America?

The debate around No First Use, explained

President Obama could change this country's long-standing nuclear policy.
(Image credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

It's the ultimate nightmare. Somewhere on the planet, a nuclear weapon is used for the first time since 1945. A fleet, army, military base — or a city — disappears in a radioactive mushroom cloud and thousands are killed. The 74-year taboo against using nuclear weapons has just been broken in a big, big way.

The Obama administration is reportedly pondering a fundamental shift in the nation's nuclear policy, one that will make sure that weapon isn't dropped by the United States. The Obama administration is reportedly considering an official policy of No First Use, meaning that the United States would never be the first party in any conflict to break the nuclear taboo.

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Kyle Mizokami is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Daily Beast, TheAtlantic.com, The Diplomat, and The National Interest. He lives in San Francisco.