It's a system that sounds, well, mad, but it has proven very effective
Indeed it has.... but possession of nuclear weapons does not necessarily mean that a nation will use them.
Take Israel, for example. We know they have them, the Arabs know they have them. But yet, they haven't used them. For the Israelis, they are a kind of doomsday device, in that if they are threatened with destruction...
Well, by god, they're going to take everyone along with them.
And yes, some claim that NMD will disrupt the Balance of Terror. But then again, rogue nations such as Iraq, N. Korea, Iran... and others are seeking that little "equalizer" that gives them clout on the global political landscape.
But on the other hand, maybe such a system in the hands of the US, which is hardly likely to launch a pre-emptive strike against China or Russia, could be a useful tool in which we promise to "protect other nations" as well, to include them.
That makes us the equivalent of the global missile "cop", keeping the peace around the globe.
They rant and they rave, but the Chinese know we would rather compete on the economic front, rather than "nuking 'em" just for the hell of it.
We just have to be careful how we wield such power so as not to utterly cause them serious loss of face... |
