Nuclear nonproliferation...

[Skidmore]

I've been listening to this program on nuclear nonproliferation on C-Span this morning. Linton Brooks is talking about the nonproliferation policy of this administration in terms of creating more weapons and how their policy is so misunderstood--especially within the context of development of that "bunker buster" weapon. I don't understand the thought processes of the people who develop weapons. How does the development of weapons which can destroy all of civilzation many times over accomplish peace. I don't buy that the presence of fear equals peace. These are qualitatively different states of being. I'm very creeped out by this whole discussiona and the nonchalance with which these people toss terms around that, if actualized, would result in millions of deaths and untold destruction to the environment.

[James T. Kirk]

1. "Bunker buster" nuclear weapons

I used to be really interested in nuclear weapons policy back in the 1980s, so I've seen and read a whole bunch of the sort of stuff you saw on C-SPAN. Here's my take on why a bunker buster bomb is useful.

Modern tunneling and underground bunker technology is so good that you can make fortresses deep enough to withstand a nuclear blast. No kidding. The bunker buster would be able to penetrate the deep into the ground before exploding, which could take out a target facility which a regular weapon might not.

Here is a scenario that could, sadly, actually happen. Suppose North Korea launched a nuclear attack on us as a way to prevent us from interfering with a north-south invasion. The only way we could attack the North Korean nuclear facilities is with "small" nuclear weapons that might not take out the facilities or with huge weapons that would spread damage over a huge area and might not even be effective. The bunker buster option would give the US forces more capabilities and more options. That way we would not have to choose between being vulnerable and going overboard and causing mass casualties.

[Skidmore]

2. So we just make sure all of civilization gets

wiped out because a few people could possibly survive in a bunker? Sorry, all of these weapons should be destroyed.

[James T. Kirk]

5. You assume that there can only be one type of nuclear war.

The first nuclear war (World War II) had massive casualties, but the world went on. Suppose we had a nuclear conflict with North Korea, which has only a handful of weapons. Our military has to plan for all types of war, from thousands of nuclear missiles coming at us from Russia to a single bomb sneaked into San Francisco or LA on a cargo ship.

I wish we didn't have to deal with the reality of nuclear weapons, but they are real and have to be dealt with.

[I thought so.]

3. The LA Times reported recently,

that an Nk refugee said after the War in Korea ended in 1953 that the destroyed industrial infrastructure would be rebuilt under the many mountains in NK. He said that he was recruited at 16 yrs. and was committed to spend his life there.

There are other reports that NK has 10,000 heavy artillery guns aimed at Seoul,SK that are housed in mountain bunkers.

I can only say good luck on making a "bunker buster" nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapons are very fragile,most are designed to never hit the ground,let alone penetrate the earth enough to "bust" bunkers.
Such a weapon would have to be tested above ground.

This technology has has bumped the wall of absurdity. I won't happen,relax.
Its far cheaper to buy off NK. That was the Clinton plan and it would have worked.

[I thought so.]

4. Mutual assured destruction.

That is,no one can "win" a war. It worked very well for 50 years.

War is puny compared to the assault on the Earth that has already gone too far. The effects of the climate change are irreversible. If all humans died now,the bad effects would still happen. Hopefully some humans will survive in a very hostile new environment. The Earth cannot sustain 6 billion humans. We here in the USA will be the least likely to survive.
Worry about reality,not "what ifs". For us,you and me,we love our lifestyle and it is the problem and it is killing us. Imagine a slow nuclear war.