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The closest the U.S. ever came to using atomic weapons during the Korean War was in April 1951. Assuming that an atomic war, which escalated so that it involved the successful detonation of 100 atomic weapons on Russia and about 60 on China, actually started at that time, what would the postwar world look like? In OTL, the USSR had no capability to drop atomic weapons on the USA, and only had between 5-10 atomic weapons in its stockpile. So let's assume that the USSR is not able to launch any successful atomic strikes during the war (bombs fail to detonate, or planes shot down by Western air defense).

In this thread let's not discuss or debate the plausibility of such an event, or the details of how the attacks were launched. I am concerned only with the postwar effects on the world at large...physical and otherwise...and possible political ramifications, both internationally and domestically within the USA.

For example...

1) Is organized government likely to be able to function in the devastated Soviet Union? If the communists lose control, who replaces them?

2) Same question as above for China?

3) Effects on the 1952 Presidential Election?

4) International opinion?

5) Possible spillover effects of the loss of Soviet and/or Chinese support for one side in the following...Vietnam, Middle East, Africa, Cuba? Who would arm the belligerants? Would anyone arm them?

Please discuss.

By the way, I found the discussion in the Cultural Effects of a Nuclear War thread interesting, but it didn't really touch on the points above, except possibly #4.
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