Nuclear Weapons Essay

Nuclear Weapons |
Serious Threats or Sources of Security? |
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“As the bomb fell over Hiroshima and exploded, we saw an entire city disappear. I wrote in my log the words: ‘My God, what have we done?’”   These were the words voiced by Captain Robert A. Lewis, the co-pilot of the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped one of the two atom bombs that struck Japanese soil. This was the first example of the use of nuclear intelligence in the form of weaponry and the effects were devastating. Not only did the bombings leave Japan crushed, but the entire world witnessed what some have called a war crime. The aftermath of the incident was shocking. Large buildings were reduced to rubbles while traces of the inhabitants of the area were essentially nonexistent. With this in mind, there is no arguing that nuclear weapons are the single most destructive weapons that any country could possess. If these weapons were to fall into the hands of the wrong people, very serious consequences could ensue. Ever since the bombings in Japan, many questions have risen; should the development of nuclear weapons and nuclear intelligence be put to a halt? What would the effects be were the situation to repeat itself now that technology is much more advanced? It has been argued that nuclear weapons are beneficial because they are a sign of power and provide the country with safety. On the other hand, others believe that nuclear weapons should be eliminated because their destructive power is simply too catastrophic. Which is the correct side to pact with, are nuclear weapons beneficial or detrimental?
In his article, The Threat of Nuclear Terrorism is Real, Matthew Bunn claims that nuclear intelligence has been, and continues to be a major target for terrorist groups. According to Bunn, these groups have the potential to produce an arsenal large enough to cause very serious damage if given the opportunity. Bunn continues by expressing his discontent with the security used to protect these...