![]() All of this with nuclear warheads that are far more powerful than the ones dropped on Japan (the largest nuclear bomb in the U.S. The chances of an accidental launch or misunderstanding leading to nuclear war is still a concern for all nuclear powers, especially the less stable ones that are locked in historic rivalries with their neighbors. The American and Russian nuclear arsenals, designed for assured destruction within minutes, remain geared toward fighting a war that ended with the disappearance of the Soviet Union. Loose nuclear material is still floating around in storage locations and on the black market. Iran’s nuclear program is a serious concern. Today, nine countries do, with India, Pakistan and North Korea joining the club. In 1989, when the Cold War ended, six countries had nuclear weapons, the five members of the Security Council plus Israel. The 67 year history of non-use has accustomed people to thinking of nuclear war as something beyond the realm of possibility, with all the close calls of the Cold War receding from memory. ![]() Only the oldest members of society remember the nuclear drills and fallout shelters. There is no longer a deep awareness of nuclear issues the way there was during the Cold War, when people lived day in and day out with the fear of a nuclear war ending human civilization. More recently, other, more visible concerns like terrorism and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have consumed our attention. Since then, no nuclear weapons have been used in battle (though thousands have been tested) and the Cold War ended without a nuclear exchange between the superpowers. Never before had so many people been killed by a single weapon. Thousands more were left homeless from the devastation and suffered radiation side effects for the rest of their lives. Three days later, another atomic bomb with an explosive power of 21 kilotons was dropped on Nagasaki, killing 74,000 people and obliterating everything within a 1,000-yard radius. On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped a 16 kiloton nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing 140,000 people and immediately burning more than four square miles of the city. This month marks the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombings that brought the Second World War to an end.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |