The Right to Have Nuclear Weapons?

I think not

Hall of Fame Member
Apr 12, 2005
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The Evil Empire
Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), every country does have a right to nuclear development for peaceful purposes (i.e. nuclear energy). The fear is that countries may use this as a guise for weapons development. This is what the Bush Administration has been concerned about in the Iran example.

More fundamentally, if (as also noted further above) powerful countries, such as the US itself, are pursuing nuclear weapons options (defying various nuclear non proliferation treaties in the process), this raises arguments that many have made in the past, such as:

Surely others have a right to develop nuclear weapons as well?
Why should only a few powerful countries have them?
Won’t they use their position to pressure or bully other countries to their interests?

North Korea, India, Pakistan, and Israel, for example (and possibly Iran, depending on how things progress) would seem to directly or indirectly support these questions for their own interests.

The right to nuclear weapons will be an attractive argument for those who feel threatened by the current world powers, or for those with more ambition. Furthermore, the world’s foremost nuclear powers appear unwilling to provide sufficient help. Some, such as the US, appear to reverse and actually develop more weapons, citing reasons such as fear and mistrust of others.

In that context, it would be hard to argue against other countries also demanding such terrible weapons. The US may even find it will have to accept that others will want nuclear weapons too, as they will recycle these same concerns, often back towards the US, adding the charge of hypocrisy if the US opposes them.

Perhaps in the ideal sense most citizens in the world would like to see all countries give up their nuclear weapons, but in the world of real-politik, that would seem suicidal. The arms race fear seems hard to avoid.

For countries such as the US that wish to dissuade others from pursuing nuclear weapons development, a negotiated approach that is also backed by real commitments that live up to their parts of nuclear non proliferation treaties would go a long way towards achieving a more agreeable and peaceful future. But to achieve this requires an almost colossal shift in foreign policy.

Ironically then, the need for international “stability” will be used as an argument both for the reduction in nuclear weapons, and for their proliferation.

Ultimately, the threat of more nuclear weapons, of increased arms races and insecurity are all diversions of precious resources that lots of countries can ill-afford. Close calls on nuclear annihilation, such as the two examples at the beginning of this article, may become harder to avoid.
 

Hard-Luck Henry

Council Member
Feb 19, 2005
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Damn this nanny state. I'd have to join the military if I wanted to play with really big guns. It's not fair; Howitzers are way kewl.
 

Gordon J Torture

Electoral Member
May 17, 2005
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Which Countries have the right to have nuclear weapons is irrelevant because whoever wants to have them, will do so regardless.

The questions I ask, is When, (not "if" because it is inevitable), but WHEN will the U.S.A. get nuked, and how ridiculously overboard will the U.S.A. go it's in retaliation?

I predict for every individual American killed, there will be at least one hundred of whoever even resembles those responsible annihilated. Then, the states will get nuked again, then they will go even more extreme and thus, will lose all sympathy from the rest of the world resulting in the increasing frequency of the attacks against them.

Canadians will all be in the north freezing our butts off and drinking beer while playing outdoor hockey, the way it is meant to be.
 

I think not

Hall of Fame Member
Apr 12, 2005
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The Evil Empire
Thank goodness you're so optimistic of the future for all of us.

If the issue is WHEN and not IF you may want to invest in radiation equipment because the last thing you will be doing is playing ice hockey and drinking beer.
 

I think not

Hall of Fame Member
Apr 12, 2005
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Gordon J Torture said:
Your right that will be the last thing I am doing.

You must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. I sense much fear in you. Fear is the path to the dark side... fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate.. hate leads to suffering.

Ooops, wrong thread :lol: