Nuclear: A Real Threat

Posted Thursday, October 15, 2009, at 7:15 PM

Nuclear proliferation is a real threat. The possibility that terrorists or rogue states will acquire these horrible weapons adds to the threat. As stated in earlier posts, they are truly weapons of mass destruction and must be eliminated. But it cannot be accomplished unilaterally by the United States; elimination must be a United Nations action.

Involvement of the U.S. military would be strictly as part of the enforcement arm acting on behalf of a U.N. mandate to rid the world of nuclear weapons. It will be diplomatically and politically difficult to achieve but it is far superior to the U.S. trying to conquer and occupy anyone who already has or might someday acquire nuclear capability.

With regard to nuclear proliferation as well as the other DIA threats, it is critically important that we specifically identify those that are real so that we can prepare without the distraction of dealing with those that are not. For example, before the term "weapons of mass destruction" (WMD) is applied to chemical and biological dangers, it is worthwhile to consider what retired Air Force Col. Chet Richards has to say. Col. Richards presents a strong and persuasive argument in a recent book that other than nuclear devices, there are no WMD.

Chemical weapons can be the cause of horrible deaths but only on a relatively small scale. World War I was the conflict where they were most used. The estimate of deaths from them is one-half percent of the more than 10 million soldiers killed. Biological weapons can be produced only in extremely sophisticated laboratories and are almost impossible to use on an enemy with measurable effect without the user also being harmed.

They should not be ignored but unlike nuclear, these weapons cannot end human life on earth. A good start at getting the threats right would be to continue to ramp up the discussion on how to deal with nuclear proliferation and tone down the rhetoric about chemical and biological weapons--Jim Frost.

Berkley Bedell Blog

By Berkley Bedell and Jim Frost

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

Berkley Bedell--Retirement from the U.S. Congress in 1987, neither dulled my interest in the well-being of the people of the United States nor my worries about our governance. I began work in 2006 on a book outlining the country's problems and offering solutions. Jim Frost--I share Berkley's concerns and in 2007 began the job of researching, editing and assisting with writing his book. By early 2009, after finally weathering George W. Bush and recognizing how much the past eight wasted years have set the world back, our focus changed. We had seen no meaningful progress in the efforts to stem the threat of nuclear weapons, reverse global warming, preserve natural resources, reduce military spending, fight disease and hunger, improve health care, deal with the increasing gulf between rich people and poor people, establish a workable economic system, or clean up the political process. For us, these three things became self-evident: First, the problems are global; the U.S. cannot by itself control or solve them. Second, the perfect storm of worldwide catastrophe is already upon us; what must be said cannot wait. Third, in seeking solutions, the problems must be put before as many people as possible as quickly as possible. This blog is the result. There will be much more. We invite you to participate.

Hot topics

Cronies All
(1 ~ 6:51 PM, Aug 24)

Signing Off for Now
(0 ~ 1:25 PM, Jan 8)

Perilous Times, Drastic Measures
(2 ~ 8:10 PM, Dec 20)

Step Six: Homeland Security
(1 ~ 1:14 PM, Dec 12)

Step Five: Intelligence Gathering
(1 ~ 3:01 PM, Dec 8)

Home