FIVE EXPERTS WARN ABOUT THE INCREASING NUCLEAR THREAT

FIVE EXPERTS WARN ABOUT THE INCREASING NUCLEAR THREAT

by Larry Ross, May23, 2002

New Zealand showed wisdom and leadership by becoming nuclear free in 1984 in a world threatened by nuclear destruction. Experts say that nuclear war threats continue and are increasing. Again New Zealand could help with initiatives in peacemaking and war prevention.

Ex-US Nuclear Chief, General Lee Butler: "The capacity for human error, human failure, mechanical failure, misunderstanding, was virtually infinite...it was the most grotesque and irresponsible war plan ever devised by man...in the space of about 16 hours 20,000 thermonuclear warheads would be exploded on the face of our planet, signing the death warrant not just for 250 million Soviets, but for mankind in its entirety...within a period of a year (1995 on) a process that I have called the creeping re-rationalization of nuclear weapons was introduced...We in the United States have re-initiated the process of demonization of "rogue nations"...Once you do that, you can justify the most extreme measures to include the reintroduction of nuclear weapons as legitimate and appropriate weapons of national security." Regarding our post cold war peace opportunity, "Now we seem determined to fritter it away" TIMELINE,Feb/01
United Nations Under-Secretary General, Department for Disarmament Affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala: "It is not true that the threat of a nuclear war has receded...we still have over 30,000 nuclear warheads in the world, many of them on alert status, and there is always the danger that these weapons can be used...we escaped a nuclear catastrophe through sheer luck and not through any infallibility of deterrent theory...this luck is not something that is going to hold permanently." (WELLINGTON CITY VOICE, 5/4/01)
Former US Defence Secretary Robert McNamara (IN 1960-63) said in Moscow April 12, 2001, that the world came "a hair's breadth from destruction" ..the world had "lucked out" at the time (of the Cuban missile crisis) but that it "cannot continue to depend on luck" to avert a nuclear holocaust. He said that "the indefinite combination of human fallibility with nuclear weapons will lead to the destruction of humanity." (http:asia.dailynews.yahoo.com)
Canadian Senator Douglas Roche and World Court Judge Christopher Werramantry said: "...the threat to the future of humanity had increased, rather than decreased in the last few years...an enormous threat is hanging over all humanity...too few people realised the gravity of the situation, with 32,000 nuclear weapons in the world, 5,000 of them on instant alert, giving decision makers 15 minutes to decide on nuclear retaliation..." (CHCH PRESS, 7/4/01)

What Can New Zealand Do? Prime Minister Helen Clark said that there is "a real and ongoing threat to our planet from nuclear weapons...the risk of the use of nuclear weapons is as real as it ever was...nuclear war would be a catastrophe for our planet." (30/5/01). That is why New Zealand is a leading advocate of nuclear disarmament policies. Our new Defence Policy places an emphasis on peacemaking and peacekeeping, rather than preparing to participate in unjustifiable wars. Humanity's luck could end. Future wars could become nuclear. People should express their views about the new directions in NZ Defence. Politicians need to hear your views. Why not write to Rt. Hon Helen Clark, your MP, and/or your local newspaper?

Larry Ross.