September 18, 2003
Mini Nukes in the Future
Americans don’t want terrorists to have nuclear weapons, and the Iraq War was based on a similar premise. Yet for all the noise-making and contortions that the world would be safer without nukes going off, the U.S. is ready to make nuclear warfare a reality with “small arms” race, arms which would be capable of delivering strategic explosions and doses of deadly radiation to enemy states. Analysts are concerned this could lead other countries to develop similar weapons, with a wink to the U.S. for removing the taboo of nuclear weapons. With the current wave of terrorist attacks in Iraq, the news may be cause for a different kind of alarm; Instead of attacking troops in a bid to kill them, terrorists could be more vigorously drawn to fighting units in hopes that they could acquire small and portable nuclear arms that could be used against civilians in densely populated areas.
Posted by Stephen VanDyke at September 18, 2003 12:59 PMGood article, Stephen. I agree, low yield tactical nuclear weapons is an open invitation to terrorists. Last I heard though, the Congress authorized research, but, not production of these weapons. Has there been a change in this Congressional position?
Posted by: David R. Remer at September 18, 2003 01:38 PMIt’s not in production yet, but you know how these military guys think: “Why spend billions of dollars on this if we can’t use it?” I agree on other areas of development, but why are we even investigating this as a conventional battlefield weapon? It’s like opening Pandora’s Box and finding it’s full of smaller boxes that are spring-loaded.
Posted by: Stephen VanDyke at September 18, 2003 02:16 PM
