Nuclear hypocrisy by Western states
Published:Monday | September 25, 2017 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
It is refreshing that The Gleaner has seen it fit to give space for opposing opinions on Western propaganda.
The column by Wayne Kublalsingh, titled 'Nuclear logic and logistics', which appeared in The Gleaner on September 23, is a challenge to the belief that only powerful countries should be allowed to stockpile nuclear weapons.
History teaches us that only the strong survive. Often the weak perish. Since World War II, there has been a race by the leading countries to produce nuclear weapons as a means to control the resources of the world and intimidate the weak. Nations with advanced science raced to produce the most deadly weapons. A Cold War resulted between the United States and Russia, driving fear into each other. Common sense prevailed, and nuclear weapons have not been used since the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan.
India, Pakistan, France and a few other countries have stored nuclear weapons to deter nuclear attack. Israel clandestinely has stored nuclear weapons to intimidate Middle East Arabs. North Korea and Iran decided to produce nuclear weapons for their defence. The Shah of Iran was given the green light by the US to produce nuclear weapons. When he was overthrown, the process was abandoned.
Threats from the United States and Israel pushed the Iranians to restart their nuclear programme. The president of the US is now threatening to withdraw from a treaty worked out with Obama and some other countries.
Current threats by Trump to destroy North Korea have increased the Koreans' effort to move ahead with their nuclear project.
Those Western countries racing to control the northern Pacific should beware of the power of China and Russia before the world goes up in flames.
R. OSCAR LOFTERS
Kingston 8