RachelKahen

Mr.Byron
APLang.
1/25/15
NuclearWeapons
Nuclear weapons have brought on a tremendous debate amongst leaders all over the
world. Some believe that nuclear weapons should be disarmed and never used while others
believe that they are crucial in maintaining peace throughout the world. Trillions of dollars are
spent on nuclear bombs and their facilities over the years. Is it worth it? That truly depends on
the person youre asking. Nuclear weapons have helped progress as well ashinder relationships
with other nations. Whether or not nuclear weapons are useful sparks enormous debate which
willbediscussedthroughoutthischapter.
It has been nearly 70 years since the HiroshimaandNagasakibombingof1945,theonly
time in history where an atomic bomb was used. A lot of thoughtwasputinbeforethedecision
to use an atomic bomb was made by President Truman, however it concluded with the
devastating outcomeofbombingthetwocities (White).AfterthebombingTrumanstatedthathe
saved the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans and did not regret his
decision. Although thisbombingsavedmanylives,doesitmeannuclearweaponsarebeneficial?
President Barack Obamadoesnotseemtothinkso. Hebelievesthatnuclear weapons represent
the gravest threat to U.S. security and that nukes should be completely eliminated
(Tepperman). Other leaders like
Vladimir Putin, Hu Jintao, and Benjamin Netanyahu also

believe that the spread of nukes should be halted. No leader wants to put their nation at risk of
beingcompletelydemolished.
Although many world renowned leaders believe that nuclear bombs are detrimental to
human existence, is it possible that theyre wrong? Historyhasproventhatnoformallydeclared
nuclear states have had any wars fought amongst them. The reason for that is the fear of being
nuked by the enemy. Nuclear weapons make the costs of war obvious, inevitable, and
unacceptable (Tepperman). Both countries knowthattheonlywaythewarwouldendwouldbe
with millions of lives being lost on each end and no clear victor. The logic of mutually assured
destruction is compelling and has lead to nuclear peace, the informal agreement amongst the
worlds major powers to avoid war at all costs not including proxy wars (Tepperman). There
have been instances where discussions between nuclear powers have almost moved beyond
dialogue however
direct conflict between nuclear powers alwaysdeescalatedbacktodialogue
(Spalding). As long as nuclear weapons exist, largescale devastating wars are likely to be
avoided.
Many solutions to eliminating nuclear weapons have been proposed over the years.
Professor Gareth Evans believes that Nuclear weapons are, simply, the most indiscriminately
inhumane weapons ever invented, and the only ones capable of destroying life on this planet as
we know it. He introduces a systematic method that he thinks should be implemented that
would slowly but surely erase the earth of all traces of nuclear weapons. The toughestandmost
important step to a nuclear free world is disarmament of existing nuclear weapons. As long as
some nations have them, others will want them. A doctrine of no first use must be signed
amongstcountriestoreassurethatnonukeswillbesentout,thenslowlyallnuclearweaponswill

be taken out of active deployment. Professor Evans acknowledges the fact that this seems
unreasonable and that some countries would not agree to this causing a domino effect of
opposition, however What seems unthinkable now is likely to seem much more achievableten
years from now: just as pessimism can feed on itself andproducepessimism,sotooarepositive
developments selfreinforcing. Efforts must be made and programs must be implemented as
wellasenforcedotherwisetheworldwilleternallybeatriskofnuclearobliteration.

Q1:
Since the invention of nuclear weapons we have had a long periodofglobalpeaceandstability,
however we havealsoexperiencedtremendousloss.Arenuclearweaponsglobalpeacemakersor
worldwidekillingdevices?