User:Solar/Nuclear weapons

Recent CND press releases showing US and UK abuse of power regarding nuclear weapons:

NEW US NUCLEAR DOCTRINE BRINGS THREAT OF NUCLEAR USE IN CONVENTIONAL WAR
Peace campaigners reacted with horror to the nuclear “terrorism” of the US’s new nuclear doctrine set out in the draft ‘Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations’. The doctrine speaks of “integrating conventional and nuclear attacks” to ensure the most efficient use of force, and it will make the use of nuclear weapons by the United States as likely and straightforward as the use of conventional weaponry. The US is taking the world to the brink of “nuclear anarchy” if Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, approves the document as it stands, said Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

The proposed new nuclear doctrine enshrines preemption into joint nuclear doctrine, lowers the threshold for nuclear use, approves a role for nuclear weapons against all forms of weapons of mass destruction, and sees a role for nuclear force even when the US is threatened by conventional weapons. The text replaces "war" with "conflict” as a likely scenario for nuclear first use and sanctions a role for nuclear weapons against terrorists, or against states that “support their efforts”. The draft asserts that no customary or conventional international law prohibits the use of nuclear weapons in war, and says that the US will remain deliberately ambiguous about when it would use nuclear weapons.

Whereas previously the emphasis in US policy on nuclear use has been in relation to other states’ use, or threat of use, of nuclear or other WMD, the new doctrine includes nuclear force in the context of conventional threats. The draft observes the following: “…US nuclear forces deter potential adversary use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and dissuade against a potential adversary’s development of an overwhelming conventional threat”.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

“The new doctrine blows apart the whole international framework governing nuclear weapons. The US is effectively eradicating the distinction between the use of nuclear and conventional weapons, and raising the likelihood of nuclear use in a conventional conflict. Treaty protection of non-nuclear weapons states from the threat of nuclear attack has gone by the board, and countries suspected of supporting the efforts of terrorists may come under nuclear attack. This doctrine raises extremely serious implications for international security and proliferation. The implications are mind-blowing. International laws and treaties won’t protect any nation against a nuclear attack from the US. The US is nuclear trigger happy in the extreme and there is simply no incentive now for nations not to develop their own nuclear capacity.

The idea that there are no legal prohibitions on the use of nuclear weapons is completely wrong, and the notion of intentional ambiguity about when the US would use nukes will create massive instability. It is nothing but nuclear terrorism, designed to control and determine the actions of other states through instilling the fear in them of nuclear annihilation. The US is taking the world to the brink of nuclear anarchy.”

BLAIR BACKS US NUCLEAR DEAL WITH INDIA
 “A DISASTER FOR NON-PROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT” SAYS CND

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has condemned Tony Blair for endorsing George Bush's decision to extend nuclear technology cooperation with India. CND chair Kate Hudson described the deal as “a disaster for non-proliferation and disarmament.” and condemned the Primes Minister for “demonstrating yet again his inability to separate UK foreign policy from George Bush’s rogue agenda.” She accused Tony Blair of “putting the US’s strategic interests ahead of international peace and security.”

The US has undermined its treaty obligations in doing a deal with India and agreeing to share nuclear technology. India has continually refused to sign up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. A total of 187 states have joined the Treaty, including the five declared nuclear-weapon States (US, Russia, UK, China and France). The treaty works as a deal between the nuclear and non-nuclear states. The nuclear states agree to work towards abolition and the non-nuclear weapons states agree not to develop nuclear weapons. Only countries signed up to the treaty are allowed to share nuclear power technology. The US and UK are giving de facto recognition to India as a nuclear weapon state and in doing so are legitimising a dangerous nuclear situation.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said,

“The Prime Minister has demonstrating yet again his inability to separate UK foreign policy from George Bush’s rogue agenda. He is putting the US’s strategic interests ahead of international peace and security. This deal legitimises India’s nuclear status. The US is showing a flagrant disregard for international treaty obligations. The message from the US and UK is clear - countries are free to go nuclear if they fit in with the US’s present foreign policy objectives. International treaties and global stability are being undermined in favour of short term unilateral actions. This is a disaster for non-proliferation and disarmament.”

In 1998 India conducted five nuclear tests. Pakistan followed suit by conducting its first nuclear bomb tests, six in all. In 2002 the tensions worsened and there were fears that the two countries were days away from nuclear war. The nuclear situation has improved but both sides continue to conduct tests of their ballistic missiles which are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.