The nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by America and the subsequent colossal damage left an indelible mark on the world.
In 1970 the “Non- Proliferation Treaty” was signed by many nations of the world with an aim to put an end to the production of nuclear weapons. This pledge was further reiterated in 2000 by 187 nations at the review conference.
However, America did a shocking turnabout when the Bush administration issued its Nuclear Posture Review. This review claimed that the U.S. had the right to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear nations and against nations using biological or chemical weapons and in response to surprising military developments.
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The subsequent invasion of Iraq in 2003 on the pretext of Iraq possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction was viewed with disgust by many countries of the world. Five years since the American soldiers first swarmed into Iraq, the Americans have failed to come up with the Weapons of Mass Destruction.
After Iraq, the American government has accused Iran of possessing nuclear weapons. The Americans along with many of their allies claim that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable for many reasons all the while shutting their eyes on countries like Russia, India, Pakistan and Israel which have nuclear weapons as well. Why is it acceptable for these countries to have nuclear weapons, but not Iran??
Big Brother also claims that the procuring of nuclear weapons by Iran and Iraq could result in a regional arms race in the Middle East which is likely to be quite destabilizing in an area which is already very unstable and known for the intensity of its conflicts.
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Are Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq the only countries withstanding instabilities one is forced to ask. Quite the contrary in fact, Russia faces endless struggle with bureaucracy and a total lack of control among its people, while India and Pakistan seem to be involved in small mini wars across the borders that separate them, and Israel has been at war with Palestine for over 50 years now.
Iraq on the other hand has been involved with only two instabilities – the revolution in 1978 and the Iran-Iraq war. It is unfair to imagine that a nuclear Iran would provide a gateway and need for other countries in the region to support nuclear pursuits.
The truth is that both the gateway and the need are already there. With American troops in Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and many other Middle Eastern countries, it seems only reasonable that Iran would want to develop nuclear warfare.
The American ban on other countries seems lame in the face of the Iraq war. If it is reasonable for America to wage a war on Iraq based on a whim, then it seems reasonable that the rest of the world would want to be able to fight back. The dominant intimidation of other countries by big brother seems to reflect Uncle Sam’s status as the only superpower.
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The truth is that the U.S. lost face with the global community when it tried to justify the war against Iraq. Iran on the other hand cannot be termed as a threat to global security because it does not have forces in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
Nor does it torture prisoners of war in Guantanamo. Big Brother needs to understand that peace cannot prevail if America goes around digging for a war. The comprehensive Nuclear test-ban treaty can be expected to be successful if America leads the way.
If America expects to quietly continue to stockpile nuclear weapons while the world watches, it is in for a crude surprise. Nuclear disarmament has to start with the U.S. Only then will other nuclear countries follow suit.
Every country however small in comparison to the U.S feels the need to provide for the best security for its people. If the worlds only superpower does away with its nuclear weapons perhaps the world will feel less threatened and less in need of nuclear protection.
Big brother will have to change his attitude towards nuclear disarmament. After all change has to start from within only then will it carry outwards.