Axis of evil expands!

[Arrian]

Marcus has a point, Ned. Double standards.

I have a major problem with our government running around demanding that various countries stop trying to build The Bomb when we have enough nuclear weapons to make the planet glow.

I think trying to stop the spread of nuclear weapons is a good idea, but if we're going to do it, we need to start at home. I think a drastic, unilateral reduction (or multilateral elimination) of our nuclear arsenal might go a long way. Instead, our government spouts rhetoric that implies we have the moral highground while we remain the only nation on earth to have actually used a nuclear weapon.

Look, I don't want terrorists to get their hands on nukes any more than you do. But other countries? Specifically weaker countries we don't like? Take North Korea for example. I have no fondness for the NK government - I think they are despicable. However, they aren't going to nuke the US or Japan. No way. Because of MAD. There was a great line in a movie called "The Peacemaker" an otherwise uninspiring movie: "I'm not afraid of the man who wants 10 nuclear weapons. I'm scared to death of the man who only wants 1." If you want to prevent terrorists from getting nukes, I think you have to try to get rid of all nukes. And like I said, we've got hundreds of 'em lying about the place.

-Arrian

[chequita guevara]

The best way to keep terrorists from getting their hands on nuclear weapons is not to have any existing in the world. Get rid of them, stop making the weapons grade material, get rid of nuclear power altogether. If you can't make the stuff to make the bomb, you can't make the bomb.

[Arrian]

Che, I agree. How rare.

-Arrian

[DinoDoc]

These comments are only in reference to North Korea:

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
2. "because they are developping WoMDs."

Since the early 1990s, when its economy collapsed, the North Korea has pursued trade with such states as Angola, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, and Syria as a means of earning hard currency. Most of this trade involves arms, chemical and biological weapons materials, and even ballistic missile technology. Libya, for example, recently bought 50 Rodong-1 missiles from North Korea with a range of 1,000 kilometers.

"because they train terrorists". If that's the criteria, many other nations should be added to the Axis of Evil, and Cuba and North Korea should be taken of it.

They have also sold the weapons to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the United Wa State Army. North Koreans have also been seen at terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. They also continue to harbor terrorists from the Japanese Red Army.

[rah]

Geeze, get over it.
IT"S A PR SCAM.
Fodder for unsuspecting masses. (and believe it or not, most of us aren't that stupid to fall for it)
IT's not a double standard, it's Bush waving The US's collective Chaney. It's been happening the whole century, why should it be any different now.

When we start lobbing missiles, then we can talk.

[DinoDoc]

rah: I'm just explaining how one of the Sinister Six earned its membership.

[Saint Marcus]

They have also sold the weapons to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the United Wa State Army.

And the US gave weapons to the Mujahedeen and the UCK. point being?

I believe we have had a very long prohibition on WoMD in Cuba, dating from Kennedy. We virtually have no defense against short range missiles launched from Cuba.

We put NK in the same category because they seem to like shooting missiles at Japan. We have insisted that Japan not develop nuclear weapons of its own. So we protect them.

I know that as well as any other person. Though does that make them "evil"?


Rah: I know it's a PR stunt, but I don't understand why. Like you said: "and believe it or not, most of us aren't that stupid to fall for it." So what is the point of this?

[Ned]

Guys, In the matter of Cuba, location is everything for the U.S. If you put the matter to a vote in the U.S. on whether we should permit Cuba to develop and deploy nuclear weapons against which we can develop no defense, I am sure the Amercian people would overwhelmingly vote for no nukes in Cuba.

Ask the same question to the people of Holland, and the answer will be entirely different.

I remember the crisis in 1962. The people of American overwhelming supported what Kennedy did then. Castro got a bye only because he agreed not to develop or deploy nuclear weapons.

Even with the lapse of 40 years, nothing really has changed. If Castro attempts to deploy nuclear weapons, we probably will act.

Ned

[Chris 62]

Bet you will have forgotten all this when bombs fall on Havana and Pyonyang, and Bush will do that at some point, he's wacky enough.

The MTV generation sure has short attention spans.

[Ned]

On the matter of NK, I believe the situation is extremely complicated. I think we would seek the support of China to pre-empt the NK's. Otherwise, our intervention may cause another war between the U.S. and China.

Russia would also have to be consulted.

Given that both China and Russia are on board on the war against terror, I think the Chinese will "pursuade" the NK's not to develop WoMD. Russia will say the same thing.

I think the combined pressure from the U.S., China and Russia will be enough.

Ned

[Saint Marcus]

Ned: You still haven't answered why Cuba and North Korea are "evil". You are only explaining why the US doesn't like them, but that doesn't make them "evil".

[Saint Marcus]

Bet you will have forgotten all this when bombs fall on Havana and Pyonyang, and Bush will do that at some point, he's wacky enough.

Do you really think Bush will start an invasion of North Korea and Cuba??

[Chris 62]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
Do you really think Bush will start an invasion of North Korea and Cuba??

Invasion?

No.

Bombing?

Yes.

[Saint Marcus]

Damn...that would suck

[Arrian]

Guys, In the matter of Cuba, location is everything for the U.S. If you put the matter to a vote in the U.S. on whether we should permit Cuba to develop and deploy nuclear weapons against which we can develop no defense, I am sure the Amercian people would overwhelmingly vote for no nukes in Cuba.

Umm... the thing about sovereignty is that the US people don't get to vote on whether or not Cuba should have nukes. The fact that Cubans can't vote about it either... well, the world isn't perfect.

-Arrian