Pearl River For over fifty years, since 1972, the United States and Russia have curtailed their nuclear ambitions and stockpiles by the terms of a treaty. That’s over now. Let the proliferation begin. Both countries have indicated plans to put nukes in new places.
Equally scary is the fact that now it’s nuke here, nuke there, nukes everywhere. Withdrawing the limits between Russia and the US also, by example, if nothing else, loosens the reins on other nuclear powers. China supposedly has 600 in stockpile now, and has expressed absolutely zero interest in negotiating anything that would suppress its superpower ambitions. India, Pakistan, and North Korea are also building up their arsenals. Israel won’t say, but experts believe they have something close to 100. They have also refused to sign a non-proliferation agreement.
What could go wrong? Pretty much everything!
With treaties gone and limits broken, is there really any leverage to stop other countries from joining this nuke club? I realize that Trump is now bullying up on Iran, but I’m not sure what our high ground position is in arguing that we have the right to say that they – or any number of other countries – don’t have the right to build nuclear bombs? Clearly, South Korea would like us to either give them the green-light or put nukes somewhere in the southern peninsula, if we could get away with it. The UK and France are already packing, but others likely think it’s not necessary, because they either believe NATO is still viable, or the US already has some stashes here and there. I don’t know. I’m just saying.
When there are no limits, then there are no limits.
Think of this another way. Any time when the US abandons a public policy that it makes Richard Nixon look good, it’s time to realize we are in deep and dangerous trouble.
Looks like we’re getting ready to go back to the “duck and cover” days of the Cold War. Those were the days when “the rocket’s red glare, the bomb bursting in air” were warning signs. Let’s hope this time of tearing up treaties and rearming are not putting more bombs bursting in air over the countries of the world as well as our own.