Vocal Voices

And it will, produce nuclear weapons, it is just a matter of time.

In fact the technology is now so old, and the raw materials so widely available, that many countries could independently do so as well.

It is, therefore, vitally important for there to be a moratorium on further nuclear armament. But it has to be done by agreement and not by threats, as the US seems to think.

Threats will only lead to brinkmanship, and that makes nuclear conflict ever more likely. The thinking goes that 'if you can have them then why can't we?' and that is understandable. We cannot uninvent nuclear weapons, and those that already have them will not give them up, so we have to work damned hard to "persuade" others not to go down that route.

It can only happen if there is the will to do so.

Argentina invaded the Falklands despite our nuclear deterrent. India and Pakistan square up regularly despite both sides holding a nuclear arsenal. Israel has had nuclear devices since the 1960's and that hasn't deterred the Arabs.

We can't uninvent nuclear weapons, true, but I do not think they will ever be used. And they are demonstrably not a deterrent to those nations happy to initiate conventional warfare.