Nuclear Weapons

In lieu of the events concerning Iran and it's nuclear programme, I'd like to write a piece on nuclear weapons. I'll start out by saying nuclear war is the single biggest threat to Humanity and the Earth, far surpassing the long term threat of Global Warming.

There is so much talk of the threat of nuclear weapons from Iran, but I counter that the biggest threat to the world by nuclear weapons comes from the United States. It's aggressive foreign policy stance to the rest of the world forces the development of nuclear weapons as a deterrent to it's hegemony. Threats of a no fly zone over Russia's ally, Syria, by the US have been responded to with threats by Russia:

"First, I am instructing the Defense Ministry to immediately put the missile attack early warning radar station in Kaliningrad on combat alert. Second, protective cover of Russia's strategic nuclear weapons, will be reinforced as a priority measure under the programme to develop out air and space defenses. Third, the new strategic ballistic missiles commissioned by the Strategic Missile Forces and the Navy will be equipped with advanced missile defense penetration systems and new highly-effective warheads. Fourth, I have instructed the Armed Forces to draw up measures for disabling missile defense system data and guidance systems if need be... Fifth, if the above measures prove insufficient, the Russian Federation will deploy modern offensive weapon systems in the west and south of the country, ensuring our ability to take out any part of the US missile defense system, in Europe. One step in this process will be to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad Region. Other measures to counter the European missile defense system will be drawn up and implemented as necessary. Furthermore, if the situation continues to develop not in Russia's favor we reserve the right to discontinue further disarmament and arms control measures. Besides, given the intrinsic link between strategic offensive and defensive arms, conditions for our withdrawal from the New START Treaty could also arise.

How blatant of a threat is this statement? They're saying "we're ready and willing to use our nukes", and nobody flinches an inch. If you ask me, we're getting close to the threat level that was present during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Never before during the Cold War was NATO influence such a threat to Russian interests, and now that Russia is being backed into a corner, they are showing their nuclear armed teeth.

Lately the US has taken steps to undermine Russia's strategic position, which has to do what it can to protect that, either by developing new nuclear weapons system more efficient in destruction or threatening to use the ones it currently has. It's pursuit of a missile defence shield in Europe greatly undermines global security, as can be seen in the Russian response it provoked, basically again reactivating the first strike doctrine. Claims of the defence shield being used to protect Europe against Iran are nonsense, as utilization of Russian radar stations would be a more viable and buffered defence option.

Let's not forget that the Middle East's most aggressive and rouge nation possesses the only and very large stockpile of nuclear arms. That nation is Israel. Israel has refused to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), thus refusing to reduce it's nuclear arms. There have been two times where Israel has almost launched nuclear weapons; nuclear armed F4 Phantoms and missile launchers were put on 24 hour alert in case Israeli ground forces were overrun, and in 1991 when Saddam Hussein launched SCUD missiles against Israel, it's mobile nuclear missile launchers were deployed and put on nuclear alert.

Claims of strikes against Iran are necessary in order to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapon material from Iran are unbalanced, for the greatest threat of this comes from a US ally: Pakistan. Jihadists have a permanent presence in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and have shown their ability to conduct operations almost freely within the country when they assassinated Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and occupied the Swat Valley in 2009. The risk here of terrorists capturing nuclear material or weapons and exporting them for use against US or NATO targets is the greatest in the world. A nuclear detonation in an American city would have disastrous consequences for the world, as the American military would be itching to pull push the launch button against anyone it could find to blame.

We must even question the fail safe systems for these weapons or their facilities. Human error is always a factor, and cannot be eliminated. How smart is it to gamble on these odds with weapons that could spell extinction for the entire Human race?