Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to re: to lose that getting into a WMD pissing match with a superpower just is way too counterproductive.

re: to lose that getting into a WMD pissing match with a superpower just is way too counterproductive.
azstrummer — (archived)

It's one thing to build weapons and bluster, another to actually use them. The Soviets proved that no matter how bizarre and expansionist a regime might get, that decision, even if you have a good chance of inflicting a huge hurt on your enemy, is one not taken lightly.

I think that the odds of North Korea or Iran ever using one of their weapons or providing one to some rogue group are very low. Often military empowerment has a calming effect on nations. In many ways insecurity of having neighbors around you that have a bigger gun is more destabilizing than the possession of strength.

The scary thing to most citizens is the Muslim suicide bombers. I suppose we get this idea that the countries that house such folks have that idea planted in their foreign policy. A little deeper look however seems to indicate that the only ones giving up their lives for "the cause" are not the policy makers. The leaders tend to display the traits of people wanting to guarantee their own survival.

We certainly haven't helped to change the perception that a nuclear arsenal is the way to keep the US's nose out of your business. We might turn up the rhetoric but we don't send in soldiers. I think it's time to start reassuring the world that we're going to stay out of other country's affairs regardless (unless of course they threaten our borders).

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