Comments | ontd_political: Israel’s Nukes Derail U.S. Nonproliferation Goals

ms_maree in ontd_political

Israel’s Nukes Derail U.S. Nonproliferation Goals

Jul 31, 2012 10:02

How Israel Torpedoes NonproliferationStrengthening the international nonproliferation regime is one of President Obama’s key foreign policy goals. During a speech in Prague, in April 2009, he announced his “intention to seek a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.” He argued that because the US was the “only power to have used a nuclear ( Read more... )

barack obama, nuclear weapons, opinion piece, iran, history, foreign policy, israel, usa

Comments 12

layweed July 31 2012, 01:38:17 UTC

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

No one is supposed to know Israel has nukes!

ms_maree July 31 2012, 01:42:16 UTC

World's worse secret!!!

layweed July 31 2012, 01:50:01 UTC

No kidding. I can understand how they might have had good reason to have them once (50s, 60s), back when every country in the region was out the wipe them off the face of the Earth, but now? It feels to me like Israel are the bully on the block, and with a nuclear Iran around the corner, it seems like such a huge recipe for disaster.

ETA: Actually, I kinda take that back, nuclear deterrents only work when the other side knows for sure you have them and aren't afraid to use them. With Israel keeping them a "secret", is there any point? Idk.

ms_maree July 31 2012, 01:55:30 UTC

I guess their argument is that they need those nukes to discourage their enemies. But so far we've seen they can defend themselves really well without them, and them having nukes is just encouraging escalation in the region.

The real problem, is I see it (and it will never be addressed) is why the USA, France, Russia, UK, etc can have nukes and everyone else has to shut up and deal. I dont' want anyone to have nukes, but it's rich for the USA to pick and choose who can or can't.

Thread 8

brother_dour July 31 2012, 04:48:16 UTC

So...what happens if Israel stops being a Western ally? And we thought North Korea was worrisome!

sesmo August 1 2012, 10:08:43 UTC

And instead they ally to whom? All small countries are allied to the US, Russia, the EU, or China. There are a couple of larger countries (like India) that are sort of neutral-ish. But pretty much small countries are allied with one of the major powers. What alternative major power do you suggest as an ally for Israel?

A Theory brother_dour July 31 2012, 05:16:44 UTC

Do you know why the U.S. is okay with Israel having nukes? If they use their's, we won't have to use ours. Our enemies get nuked, and we don't have to be the bad guys. I really think Israel is our proxy in that, at least for the Middle East region of the world.

sesmo August 1 2012, 10:09:40 UTC

Ah, yes, of course. Syria and Iran only wants nuclear power as a response to Israel. They would be perfectly peaceful and not be having any problems except for that pesky Israel. It is to laugh.