The Bomb

[Skybird]

German TV, second channel "ZDF", shows a three-part documentary about the nuclear threat after the end of the cold war. First part was yesterday, and can be seen here:

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/conte...e=1&bw=dsl1000

Second part is this evening on life TV, ZDF, 22:45H German time, and will be available on internet afterwards, under www.ZDF.de. Third part is on 2nd August, 23:30 local time.

The first part looks at the security concerns of New York, the alarming future of super-corrupt Pakistan which is heavily undermind by the Taliban and more and more falling to "radical islam" (and corrupt military and intelligence leaders cooperating with them), it interviews Kissinger, and witnesses nuclear missile life excercises in an American and a Russian key post who have not given permissions for TV visitors since years.

Length is 43 minutes. German language.

Not especially a pleasant bedtime story.


If you ask what to do about the mess - I have no idea of how to get out of this spiral.

[Janus]

Thanks for the info, I'm going to watch this.

[Skybird]

Second part:

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/conte...=55&bw=dsl1000

Japan discussing nuclear rearming, Iran claiming a right to have access to all modern technology fo reasons of being an old cultural power, Israel's concerns about a highly irrational, religious Iranian mad nation that cannot be deterred like the US and the USSR deterred each other: since Iran fosters a culture of glorifying self-killing and thus is not deterred from committing nuclear suicide, the Russian nuclear industry that does not differ much between civilian and military usage of nuclear technology, a brief visit toi the USS George Washington, and Brazil, having already had a nuclear arms program by it's navy, which was said to be closed down, but in the hidden seems to have ran on.

I knew that Brazil is considered to be close to having nukes, if it wants, being the huge nuclear technology player that it is. What was new to me is that most likely they already have nuclear weapons.

[FIREWALL]

Thx for info Skybird. Wish this was on tv over here.

[Aramike]

Anyone remember the 80s TV miniseries, The Day After on CBS? It was really the first production I can remember that popularized the understanding of what REAL nuclear war would seem like, unlike the safety PSAs on the 50's and 60's that suggested hiding under a desk, as it were. When one actually understand the tangible concepts of nuclear war, winter, fallout, etc., people finally can get a grasp at the urgency of preventing these weapons from being used at all costs.

Like Skybird, I have no concrete ideas on how to get out of this danger, but I do have some suggestions. For one, Russia needs to get their heads out of the sand regarding Iran and missile defense. It is well-known that a nuclear-armed Iran presents a danger to the world. Furthermore, it is known that any conceivable missile defense system will be limited in scope, and would find extreme difficulty with such threats as SLBMs.

As such, they should accept a partnership with the US on develop a missile defense system capable of giving the Iranians (or any other aspiring nuclear rogue nations) pause.

Indeed, there are other ways to detonate a nuclear weapon, such as a suitcase bomb. However, a ground detonation is far less "effective" than an airburst. But, more importantly, limiting the options of such nations makes it easier to allocate resources to defending against more unconventional options.

What really is terrifying about this situation is that the world CAN take action against such regimes militarily, but won't do it until AFTER a disaster strikes. So, once Iran wipes Israel off the map, only then will be bomb their nuclear capability into the ground. Either way, regarding Iran we end in the same place, except at the extraordinary cost of life on the road there.

Finally, the world's powers need to ask themselves - what the hell do nations such as Iran, North Korea, even Brazil need nuclear weapons for? The build-up of NATO versus Warsaw Pact, while unfortunate, was undeniably necessary from the perspective of each side. However, what threats do nuclear weapons in the hands of, say, Iran mitigate?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Aramike

Finally, the world's powers need to ask themselves - what the hell do nations such as Iran, North Korea, even Brazil need nuclear weapons for?

Not to mention France, Britain?

Regarding Iran, N-Korea, Brazil, the answer is easy: to be able to stop the US. There is a strong movement in south America to push back the enormous Us influence there, especially that of corporations that act with support of the US government. Iran and NK must not be explained, I think.

the bomb gives you power, prestige, immunity from military attacks, it gives you a seat in the first row of nations. As the second film said in one scene: the journalist was stunned by what he saw onboard the USS Washington, a carrier, and wondered how much effort and logistic support it takes to maintain a status of a superpower - just to be challenged and brought to a full stop by a small starving primitive country of farmers - like N-Korea.