Building the bomb

Some nuclear arms experts say that there is a high probability that someone will detonate a nuclear device in a major city within the next few years. The privilege of a few now belongs to the enterprising and intelligent with the cash to build a bomb. These same experts tell us that the nuclear powers have been lax in securing the material needed to build a weapon. You would think with the current emphasis on preventing terrorism this would not be the case.

Global capitalism might be part of the problem. It knows no boundaries when it comes to this sort of thing. If you have the cash, you can have anything.

I wonder if governments have given up on securing nuclear material as part of their strategy. Finding terrorists could be easier than stopping respectable business people who sell the material.

We also have the notion that once universal liberal democracy has taken hold, nations will not squabble and threaten each other with complete destruction.

Isn’t it pretty to think so.

Hemmingway, The Sun Also Rises

Building universal liberal democracy seems the long way of going about preventing unwanted nuclear detonations. Securing nuclear material and destroying current arsenals seems the quicker route to safety. Besides, we live in the era of precision sanitized bombing, which is much more aesthetically and morally pleasing when viewed on the television screen. Why not go with that?