United Nations nuclear non-proliferation measures attempt to restrict exchange of nuclear materials. Restrictions inevitably create "black" markets where nations that want materials for nuclear weapons probably find ways to acquire them. The conflict created is then used by politicians to expand the power of government by shrinking the power of society. We would do well to stop being suckered in by such artificial fiasco. The possession of nuclear weapons is not the problem. It is their use that is the problem, and the U.S. is the only nation on the face of the earth that has ever used them. While it would be desirable for other nations to forego nuclear weapons, we have no moral leg to stand on when it comes to instructing other people on whether they can or cannot have nuclear weapons.
Invented over half century ago, badly used at that time, and never used again, the military efficacy of nuclear weapons evidently is a mirage. Yet while the military has found no use for nuclear weapons, politicians have used them for stirring up conflict.
Americans would do well to re-evaluate the wisdom of creating devices capable of murdering thousands of people in seconds, many or all innocent, and then allowing a person of demonstrated dubious judgment, such as a Bill Clinton or a George W. Bush, to have his finger on the trigger.
As reported in the Louisville Courier-Journal, former Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara has suggested that we get rid of our nuclear weapons. That would be a good idea. Then we would have something we don't have now, which is a moral leg to stand on while telling other people that they don't need nuclear weapons.
Observing our supine Congress, perhaps it has occurred to former secretary McNamara that an instrument of instant death placed in the hands of a president empowered to use it at his own discretion, is really not such a swift idea.
McNamara is correct and we should heed his advice, for as clearly demonstrated yet again by our undeclared war on Iraq, a politician's promise to uphold the Constitution is often an oath given to the wind.
It is time to let your Congressman hear from you. Let him know that you know that because the war on Iraq was never declared by Congress, the war is illegal and must be stopped. If your Congressman demurs, let him know that you will campaign actively to assure his defeat in the next election.
Keep an eye on your Congressman and communicate with him frequently in words clearly revealing to him, and to his staff, that you are keeping an eye on him.
Congress is capable of correcting the mistakes that got us into this mess, but for that to happen it is essential that your Congressman learn to pay you some mind. Like the mule-trainer said as he picked up a stout length of two-by-four and smacked the critter squarely between the eyes, "the first thing you have to do is get its attention."
December 1, 2005
