Disarmament During The Cold War Essay

5273 Words 22 Pages
Register to read the introduction… However, with no dominant threat the nuclear powers such as the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China are defensive of their continued use of nuclear weapons as a means to bully in international politics. Since the powers refuse to disarm, it has been the work of smaller nations, as well as citizen groups, who have the most progress towards a nuclear free tomorrow. Many smaller nations are making strides towards disarmament with the extreme example being South Africa who has completely disarmed itself. Citizens groups around the world have been pushing for resolution, one of which being the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Representing the Bishops Fr. Drew Christiansen also speaks for most of the movement in his speech to congress in 2002. He speaks against the concept of holding enemy civilians hostage as well as the social acceptance of deterrence. Later he pushes for disarmament of all nuclear weapons. 2
In order to make any progress it seems the necessary step is a public rejection of the practice of threatening nuclear annihilation in international politics. In addition, the concept of holding civilian centers hostage is an archaic form of deterrence that should be discarded. Lastly, all the nuclear powers need to pursue a path towards disarmament as well working to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. However, it seems that
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Discusses how due to various causes including the aging of Russian nuclear systems, the lack of modernization in the Chinese nuclear systems, and the vulnerability of these country's systems in general, it can be seen that the United States is at a point where it is close to if not able to carry out a successful first strike. It also talks of the effects this has on the world.
25 Newman, Richard J., Thomas Omestad, Franklin Foer, and Major Garrett. "A mutually assured destruction." U.S. News & World Report 127.16 (Oct 25, 1999): 18. Student Resource Center - Bronze. Gale. CENTRAL BUCKS HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH. 8 Nov. 2007 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS>. Talks about the global ramifications of the rejection of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by the senate and its rejection is a clear example of the unwillingness the nuclear powers exhibit towards limitation of their nuclear

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