Unleashing a nuclear bomb would cause untold death and disfigurement. But society tends to forget. It has been more than 60 years since the U.S. dropped two terrible bombs on Japan and more than 15 years since the cold war between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union ended, and government commitment to avoiding nuclear war may be fading.

Although the likelihood of a missile exchange between the U.S. and Russia has lessened considerably, it has not vanished. Worry that other nuclear confrontations might occur has risen recently. Intelligence reports indicate that China is retargeting more of its missiles at the U.S. Iran continues to expand its uranium-enrichment facilities; it insists that this work is aimed only at generating electricity, but few nations believe that claim. India is broadening its ability to launch nuclear weapons from land, air and sea, and Pakistan is responding in kind. And even though North Korea indicated in September that it would disable its atomic programs, international negotiators are not yet convinced and the country continues to test longer-range missiles.

This article was originally published with the title Nuclear Weapons in a New World.

1 Comments

1. 1. toannang 04:52 AM 1/29/08

   USA must has a good and sufficient nuclear bombs stockpiles to counter-attack two giant enemies Russia and China at all time! due to they have always prepared to attack at anytime in the future!
   No one know for sure the WW-III may or may not happen in the future! To have best nuclear stockpile to protect the nation is better to have not!

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