aug 2 2020 The Sunday Times Magazine
Although many of our nightmares about nuclear war have subsided, but does it still pose as big or a bigger genuine threat than climate change and pandemics? US, Russia, China , UK, France, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea possess nuclear weapons. How long before many other small countries possess them? Accidents, malfunctions, muscalculations, nuclear terroism and sabotage (The Sunday Times) are all possible events but so are local, traditional hostilities and suicidal attempts to preserve ruling elites in the face of internal or external threats.
Little Boy's, the bomb used at Hiroshima, explosion had used only 1.38 of its overall potential. If all its potential had been utilised the original doomsday symbolism would still be vividly with us.
If nuclear weapons exist, the danger of their use will also exist. The only guarantee against such use is the complete eradication of these weapons.
It is high time for the nuclear-free nations of the world, constituting the overwhelming majority, to work together to exert their extraordinary collective influence. Without delay, they should embark on a process to negotiate a global treaty banning the use, manufacture and possession of nuclear weapons – whether or not the nuclear-armed nations are prepared to join them.
Nuclear weapons concern prestige as well as security. India has nuclear weapons because China has nuclear weapons, Pakistan has nuclear weapons because India has nuclear weapons. France and UK retain nuclear weapons in order to hold on to a position of superpowers, long since past. North Korea to suggest a power the country has never had in relationship to South Korea and USA. Russia of course in an at present obsolete relationship with USA.
The obvious answer is yes though AI seems to take the podium these days nuclear Power remains a means to intimidate other nations and have an important say in the affairs of the world. It is easily seen through the main criteria to be part of the UN security council. A reasonable answer is that nuclear conflagration remains as likely as some years ago just that it is camouflaged inorder not to hurt some individuals feelings!
Not many years ago two 4 megaton thermonuclear weapons apparantly accidently fell out of a US B-52 plane over Goldsboro, North Carolino, but did not detonate. Had they exploded war would no doubt have ensued.
AQ Khan a Pakistant scientist and head of his country's atomic bomb project sold nuclear technology to North Korea, Iran and Libya. Good or bad? Helpful or not?
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