Tag: nuclear weapons

Saudi Warning Could Escalate Nuclear Arms Race

The world’s nuclear powers – both declared and undeclared – have come primarily from Asia: China, India, Pakistan and possibly North Korea. The Middle East was dominated by a single nuclear power – Israel, which has refused to publicly declare its status.  But that domination has been threatened by Iran, which the Western powers say … Continue reading “Saudi Warning Could Escalate Nuclear Arms Race”

President Obama, We Must Not Allow a Tunnel Gap!

Mr. President, we must not allow a mineshaft gap! – Gen. “Buck” Turgidson, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb China is a vast country — “When it is dark in the east, it is light in the west; when things are dark in the south, there is still … Continue reading “President Obama, We Must Not Allow a Tunnel Gap!”

Nuclear Turkeys

By the time you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, the 12-member congressional supercommittee will have succeeded in meeting its Nov. 23 deadline to approve a plan to shrink the budget deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade. Or it will have failed and produced a turkey instead. The entire government is subject … Continue reading “Nuclear Turkeys”

Iran Sanctions: Built to Fail

Conditions for lifting sanctions go way beyond anything having to do with Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program, making it impossible for Iran to extricate itself – this could be intentional, making the military "option" a necessity. More than 90 US senators recently sent a letter to President Obama urging him to slap further sanctions on Iran  – unfortunately, … Continue reading “Iran Sanctions: Built to Fail”

Amid Turmoil, a Nuke-Free Middle East May Be in Jeopardy

A proposed international conference on a nuclear weapons-free Middle East, tentatively scheduled for 2012, may be in jeopardy amid the growing political turmoil sweeping across the Arab world – and Israel’s fears of negative fallout on its own security. The proposal for the long-outstanding meeting was endorsed by 189 member states at the Review Conference on … Continue reading “Amid Turmoil, a Nuke-Free Middle East May Be in Jeopardy”

Extending Nuclear Umbrella Is a Bad Idea

The hawks are at it again. During the debate on ratification of the new START treaty, some implied that reducing the number of U.S. nuclear warheads and launchers would undermine America’s ability to extend its umbrella of nuclear protection over more countries in the Middle East. They said this was required to obviate the need … Continue reading “Extending Nuclear Umbrella Is a Bad Idea”

Nuclear Armament Still Our Central Issue

Of all of the sources of strategic delusion and political illusion today, nuclear weapons undoubtedly make the most prodigious contribution to hypocrisy and useless expense. This certainly is true for Britain, which is set to make major decisions on military expenditure this week. It is expected to avoid a decision on its largest new military … Continue reading “Nuclear Armament Still Our Central Issue”