Triad — the indomitable fortification

ANTHONY GOMES

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Sixty-five years ago in August 1945 the world changed the course of its destiny with the arrival of the nuclear age. The spectacular historic entrance of atomic power was demonstrated when the first ever atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by a second nuclear bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, which ended the Second World War.

The awesome energy of nuclear power was revealed for the first time in the belief that with the end of the most horrific war in the history of the human race, a world at peace with nuclear power would become a much-improved environment for mankind to prosper and enjoy. Sixty-five years on, can we honestly agree the condition of the world's citizens and the hard won new age values and attitudes have fundamentally improved? A large segment of world opinion disagrees with that view.

In relative terms, world peace was short-lived with the outbreak of sectoral wars in Korea, Viet Nam, Malaya, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, and plagued with the spread of insurrections from Kathmandu to Jamaica. These violent upheavals seriously devalued the personal security of individuals throughout the world, who now cower behind bars, while paying heightened attention to maintaining a safe and peaceful existence.

The Geneva Convention, which governs the practice of humane warfare and the treatment of prisoners of war, went out the window with the rise of unconventional terrorist warfare, practised with blatant acts of barbarism and a merciless attitude towards unarmed civilians and children. A worldwide terrorist network has evolved with the birth of Al Qaeda that has the capability to strike even in the most well-protected areas, and within densely populated cities, as seen regularly in Iraq and Pakistan with suicide attacks claiming hundreds of lives.

This brings us to the "razor's edge" of nuclear confrontation being provoked by Iran and North Korea. With each act of provocation, the world moves closer to a military engagement with these two rogue states termed "the axis of evil" by former US President George W Bush.

Iran's latest incitement is launching a drone aircraft capable of delivering a bomb. The aircraft appears to be similar to the flying "buzz" bombs which rained down on London during the Battle of Britain.The exact range is unknown but is very likely to include Israeli territory. This latest weapon comes after the recent exhibition by the Revolutionary Guards of medium- and long-range missiles built to deliver nuclear warheads. The likely conclusion of these spectacular exhibitions of military hardware is that Iran is a country preparing for war. Meanwhile, the UN has approved stronger economic sanctions against Iran that were met as usual with derision by Iran's President Ahmadinejad.

At the other end of this sinister spectrum is North Korea which persists with its nuclear programme, while maintaining its long-standing friendly relationship with China. The US has responded by applying stiffer economic sanctions that include freezing the assets of companies trading in material with DPRK. The continued pursuit of its nuclear programme and the sinking of the South Korean warship have prompted this latest US response.

In his April 2009 speech in Prague, President Obama highlighted 21st century nuclear dangers, declaring that to overcome these "grave and growing" threats the US will "seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons". The language used - "overcome these grave and growing threats" - indicates the extreme seriousness of the violent rhetoric emanating primarily from Iran and North Korea infused with danger from Al Qaeda worldwide.

According to the US April 2010 Nuclear Posture Review Report, focus is on steps to be taken in the next five to 10 years thus: "The threat of global nuclear war has become remote, but the risk of nuclear attack has increased. Concerns have grown in recent years that we are approaching a nuclear tipping point - that unless today's dangerous trends are arrested and reversed, before very long we will be living in a world with a steadily growing number of nuclear-armed states and an increasing likelihood of terrorists getting their hands on nuclear weapons. Forthwith, US strategic forces - comprising submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and nuclear-capable heavy bombers - collectively called the TRIAD, continue to underwrite deterrence of nuclear attack against the US, our allies and partners." Nuclear proliferating states including Iran and North Korea, "must understand that any attack on the US, our allies and partners, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons will be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming".

The explosive power from the "Little Boy" atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima was equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT, roughly the same power as "Fat Boy" used against Nagasaki. The 20 kiloton yield appears to be minuscule when compared with today's Hydrogen bomb. Only the US is believed to have thermonuclear technology developed since the end of WWII, that brought the world into the Thermonuclear Age.

The latest outspoken voice to caution against further escalation of Mid-East tension was Fidel Castro in his speech last week, wearing his battle-dress fatigues. He told his audience that the US and Israel would lead the world into an uncontrollable nuclear confrontation with Iran, if a military engagement ensued.

Clearly, more has to be done diplomatically to try to negotiate with Iran and reduce the current threat level. The sooner the better!

Did you watch American football's Super Bowl on Sunday?
	Yes, but just for the advertisements
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	Yes, for both the game and advertisements
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Police threat level at extreme

Triad — the indomitable fortification