THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume X, Issue # 193, August 6, 2008
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
LIVING WITH THE BOMB
By Alan Caruba
THE EMERGENCE OF THE NUCLEAR AGE & THE PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS: NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN
THE CONTEMPORARY MIDDLE EAST -- WHY SOVEREIGN STATES HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- ISLAMIST IRAN AS A
NUCLEAR THREAT TO ISRAEL & THE U.S.A. -- WHY BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA'S IDEA OF "A GLOBAL BAN ON THE
PRODUCTION OF FISSILE MATERIAL FOR WEAPONS" WILL NOT WORK -- WHY NUCLEAR WEAPONS CANNOT BE
EFFECTIVELY OUTLAWED -- WHY NON-PROLIFERATION TREATIES & UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS ARE USELESS -- THE
FATAL FLAW IN THE THEORY OF MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION -- HOW AN OBAMA PRESIDENCY WOULD
UNDERMINE U.S. MILITARY DEFENSE & NATIONAL SECURITY
FULL STORY:
On August 6, 1945, in order to end the war with the Empire of Japan, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on
Hiroshima, thus launching the atomic age. The Japanese warlords did not respond with a notice of surrender, so the
U.S.A. dropped a second atomic bomb, this time, on Nagasaki. Japan surrendered unconditionally.
That’s the way wars used to be fought. By that time, Germany had been so thoroughly destroyed with conventional
bombs that its cities laid in ruins. Over a half century ago, wars were not waged with concerns for “collateral damage,” i.e.,
civilian deaths. It was understood that the civilian population had to be killed to the point where there was simply no
capability to proceed.
For a short time, the U.S.A. was the only nation with a nuclear capacity, but, thanks to having infiltrated much of the
U.S. government with a vast spy network, the Soviet Union was able to develop its own atomic bomb.
At that point, American children were taught to hide under their school desks or gather in the hallways to avoid the affect
of an atomic bomb blast. This was, of course, ridiculous, because a nuclear bomb would flatten any school, along with
much of the city in which it was located.
In 1965, Herman Kahn of the Rand Corporation published On Escalation, in which he postulated the concept of
MAD, mutually assured destruction, as the only rational solution to another nation’s nuclear weapons program. Red
China joined the nuclear club and, in time, others, such as Pakistan and India, joined as well. Both of these nations
developed their nuclear programs in secret. North Korea hasn’t even bothered to keep it a secret, nor has Iran.
Today, in the Middle East, Israel has long had nuclear weapons, a development in response to the many conventional
wars waged against Israel and in anticipation of a nuclear attack by a nation like Iran, which is led by lunatics who
repeatedly tell the world that they intend to “wipe Israel off the map.”
Although no nuclear weapon has been used in war since August 6, 1945, the likelihood that Iran will use one is too great
to ignore. There are reports that Iran has tested launching presumably nuclear-tipped missiles from ships. This would be
a means to attack the United States.
What is Senator Barack Hussein Obama’s response to the threat of a nuclear attack on America?
On October 2, 2007, Senator Obama gave a speech at Chicago’s DePaul University in which he declared “A New
Beginning.” He said, “America seeks a world in which there are no nuclear weapons.” While he said he did not intend to
pursue unilateral disarmament, he proposed “a global ban on the production of fissile material for weapons.”
For all the treaties that have been signed since the dawn of the Atomic Age, the one thing we know for sure is that
nations, if they want, will simply ignore the treaties. Iran, for example is a signatory to the United Nations Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty at the same time its President brags of adding thousands of gas centrifuges for the creation of
fissile materials.
Presumably, Senator Obama, if elected President, will use his charm and diplomatic skills to talk Iran’s mad mullahs into
ending their nuclear weapons program. He is on record as saying he would meet with Mamoud Amadinejad, but has since
“refined” that statement, saying such a meeting would have pre-conditions, et cetera.
“When I’m President,” Senator Obama now says, “we’ll strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty so that nations
that don’t comply will automatically face strong international sanctions.” Meanwhile, Germany has just signed a deal to
purchase natural gas from Iran.
There is a simple reason that nations have nuclear weapons. Their neighbors and their perceived enemies have them.
Treaties are nice, but useless. Sanctions are useless. The United Nations is useless.
My generation, born prior to or during the era of World War Two, has learned to live with the bomb. Every President
since Harry S. Truman has wanted to outlaw nuclear weapons and none has come close.
You cannot un-invent such lethal technology. You cannot assume some madman will not want to use it. The only
prevention of such use is to destroy the capability to use it. Israel destroyed Saddam Hussein’s nuclear facilities on June
7, 1981. It has more recently destroyed such facilities in Syria. When the Israelis say “Never again,” they mean it.
Senator Obama has surrounded himself with advisors with known anti-Israel views, and he continues to blather away
about some form of disarmament. He has laid out a program by which America’s military defense would be severely
reduced, including weapons development.
History teaches that only strength can deter aggression. Waiting to be attacked is folly. Expecting nations led by men
with evil intentions to respond rationally is folly.
Mutually Assured Destruction only works when leaders care enough to not sacrifice their people, but Iran’s leaders are
eager for the return of the Twelfth Imam, a mythical Islamic figure who would impose Islam on the entire world.
Sixty-three years since the first and only atomic bombs were used to end a war that had cost millions of lives, we are still
living with the bomb. The immediate question is whether we will witness its use against Israel and the United States.
If elected, Senator Obama’s policies will amount to unconditional surrender in the face of a very real threat.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Military Defense & National Security
Military Weaponry & International Security
International Politics & World Disorder:
War & Peace in the Real World
Page Two
Page One
U.S. National Security Strategy
American Politics & Political Competition:
Elections, PACs, & Political Parties
American Government & the U.S. Presidency:
Presidential Politics & National Leadership
The American Political System:
Politics & Government in the U.S.A.
Alan Caruba is a veteran business and science writer, a Public Relations Counselor, and Founder of the National Anxiety Center, a
clearinghouse for information about media-driven scare campaigns. Caruba writes a weekly commentary, "Warning Signs," posted
on the Internet website of the National Anxiety Center, which is located at
www.anxietycenter.com.
Caruba has a daily blog at http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com.
Caruba’s new book, Right Answers: Separating Fact from Fantasy, has been published by Merril Press.
© Alan Caruba 2008
Published with Permission of Alan Caruba
ACaruba@AOL.Com
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity