[CLUE-Talk] a new note in the usa/iraq tune

[Randy Arabie]

Quoting Nate Duehr <nate at natetech.com>:

> I'm still wondering why we as a country can still maintain enough 
> stockpiles of WMD to kill the world numerous times over and then say no 
> one else is allowed to.  Want to tour some nuclear silos in North 
> Dakota?
> 
> Historically, might makes right, I know... but it's still pretty 
> silly-looking to the rest of the world.  We're barbarians.  Maybe 
> that's okay, I don't know.

Here's why, and it isn't because we are barbarians.

Here's my recollection of non-proliferation, all from the top of my head. 
Please forgive me for leaving out details and for failing to mention some
exceptions, I'm sure there are some ;)  No time to read up on it right now.

After WWII the US vowed not to spread the technologies for nukes.  The stated 
reasons for this policy was that nukes were too powerful a weapon to fall into
the wrong hands.  Imagine if Hitler's scientist had succeeded in their task.

Of course, at the same time we engaged in an arms race with the USSR.  Other
nations (UK, France, Israel, and others?) managed to build their own nukes.

Sometime in the 70's, under Carter I think, the US and a group of nations signed
an international treaty (or treaties, because I think there are several now) on
nuclear non-proliferation.  There also exists (or existed) a disarmament treaty
(or treaties) between the US and the USSR.  SALT I and SALT II, Strategic Arms
Limitations Treaty, I believe.

The bottom line is, it is generally agreed by most nations that nobody should
have nukes.  Ideally, we would ban them and everyone would disarm.  But that
isn't practical.  Total disarmament is a worthy goal, and we are making efforts
to get there.

At the same time, some nations with nukes are not abiding by the existing
treaties or have refused to sign on.  I beleive either one or both, India and/or
Pakistan, have not signed the international non-proliferation treaty.

Yes, the US does have more nukes than anyone else.  But we are not the only
"barbaric" country that has them and at the same time says nobody else can.

FWIW, US is no longer making ICBMs, and I think we've dismantled/destroyed
nearly all of them.  I doubt the nations that have nukes are going to disarm
entirely as long as there are nations like N. Korea and Iran developing their own.

-- 
Allons Rouler!

Randy
http://www.arabie.org/