On The Razor's Edge Of Self-Destruction

Despite long standing U.S. claims, there is no such thing as "a safe, secure nuclear deterrent." The U.S. believes it and its allies should have a massive number of nuclear warheads to deter enemies but no one else should have them.

But yesterday's ally is today's enemy and yesterday's enemy is today's ally. The Cold War ended 20 years ago, yet the U.S. and Russia still have nuclear warheads pointed at each other and China likely has them pointed at both. One temper tantrum or error and your life and perhaps all of civilization could be gone in a heart beat.

In its search for peace, Israel has nuclear warheads pointed at some of its Middle Eastern neighbors and some of those neighbors, such as Turkey and Egypt are scrambling to get their own nuclear warheads. The U.S. claims Iran is doing the same.

While in Pakistan, which has nuclear weapons, the government may collapse and the Taliban is trying to seize control.

Meanwhile, the shock waves from North Korea's latest nuclear explosion were so powerful, the ground trembled measurably around the world and the explosion was as potent as what the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Both cities were destroyed and 180,000 people were killed.

But unlike all the others in possession of nuclear warheads, North Korea presents a clear and present danger.

"North Korea's nuclear and ballistic-missile programs pose a great threat to the peace and security of the world," said President Obama. "And I strongly condemn their reckless action."

But keep in mind Mr. Obama rains fury down on Iraq as he continues that war. And he is escalating the death and destruction in the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, compounding the misery of those people and playing into the hands of the Taliban who recruit new members with each U.S. bombing.

Then consider Mr. Obama has a 13,000 nuclear weapon arsenal, by far the biggest in the world and the U.S. military is building the next generation of nuclear weapons, as if the current ones couldn't already blow up the world many times over. And it has a missile delivery system second to none.

But as for North Korea, the United Nations Security Council "voiced their strong opposition to and condemnation of the nuclear test," in the words of Council President, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. His nation is the next biggest nuclear power.

North Korea is just one of at least a dozen nations that have nuclear weapons. As nuclear technology is quickly spreading, there will soon be more. And there will also be organizations that have them as well.

So what is the answer? More threats against those who are trying to develop or buy what those nations with nuclear weapons have? The hypocrisy aside, the weapons are spreading anyway.

If we want peace we must reach out to our brethren in a spirit of openness and cooperation and listen to them as we help them solve their problems. We must disarm and use the massive amount of money we waste now on weapons and war and instead use it to uplift the world with education, medical care and jobs.

Or we can continue down the path of intimidation and wars in the names of peace and security and bankrupt ourselves morally and financially and eventually everything we value will be consumed in a fiery hell of destruction.

And one more thing. You must get involved for what you think is important. You can raise your voice to help rescue mankind or in your silence let others make the kind of decisions that have put us on the razor's edge of self-destruction.

Dick