No Nukes

12/24/2006

Paul Munnis


North Korean and Iranian politicians sell the notion of nuclear weapons as key to their nations' future. They are right but possession is not their ally – the political points they can gain at home by seeming to be resisting America and the world is their real payoff. The actual possession of nuclear weapons just brings pain to a nation.


That pain has already begun for both nations as the world condemns their acquisition of hostile weapons, weapons that threaten world peace. With the onset of UN sanctions both nations will see the standard of living for their citizen’s decline. For awhile they can blame it on others but sooner or later the source of the problem will be seen as being their regime. Then the jig will be up and regime change will follow. However there could be an period where a Party seeks to be even more anti-American and ever more adament than the present one is.


Nuclear weapons have not been good for anyone who possesses them including the U.S. They have caused the diversion of a terrible amount of money in terms of pursuing an arms race, they have brought us nuclear threat of destruction and at one point during the Cold War we nearly experienced nuclear annihilation.


The same can be said for Russia.


The result was mutually assured destruction - a policy of "checkmate" in terms of the arms race. Does North Korea and Iran seek that as their destiny? They are mad if they do.


Both North Korea and Iran lack the delivery and command and control systems needed to deploy nuclear weapons. More sacrifice from an impoverished people will follow to meet those aims. The technology that North Korea needs is agriculture and the technology needed by Iran is to become the trade hub of the mid-east. Both are being disappointed in meeting these needs by their leaders becasue they are pursuing the wrong goals.


And for what?


So that they can destroy Israel? So they can threaten their neighbors? So they can kill Americans? None of these are goals worth permitting possession of nuclear weapons for. They are all negative goals.


The world is right to stop these guys cold in their tracks. For now the sanctions that they are feeling are just a hint of a tightening noose unless they pursue peaceful relations with others.


The people of Iran and North Korea would be wise to say “No Nukes,” to their leaders.


We Americans are soon headed for regime change but one thing that will survive is a determination to deprive both nations of nuclear weapons. Our advice to you is to plant, grow, harvest, and to feed your people even as you make new friends and concentrate on improving trade.