Nuclear weapons are far more dangerous than most people alive realize. My generation was the one hiding under our school desks. My generation perfected mutually assured destruction (MAD), which guaranteed destruction of our nation and the attacker. My generation of military personnel was committed to destruction on a global scale. The times were scary, and the more that you knew, the scarier the times. Today, U.S. Republicans, Conservatives and the Israeli Government are playing politics with nuclear weapons for political gain and using fear to gain power.
With the passing of the Cold War, Americans have forgotten the horror of nuclear destruction. Civilians buried in the bowels of the Pentagon began to whisper of nuclear war being winnable with 'only' about half of Americans dying. Not an idea that they would dare mention aloud. Republican members of Congress even let slip in public conversation what is usually only talked of in private -- the possibility of actually using nuclear weapons against another country, again.
...California Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter told C-SPAN's Washington Journal that a military conflict with Iran regarding their nuclear program may be inevitable and that the U.S. should hit them with tactical nuclear weapons.
'I think people like to toss around the fact that we have to stop them in some way from giving them this nuclear capability. I think it's inevitable. If you hit Iran, you do it with tactical nuclear devices and set them back a decade or two or three. That is what you do with a massive aerial bombardment campaign,' Hunter said...
With a huge military and a recent U.S. history of using it, current events obscure the past peaceful end of the Cold War. A global nuclear conflict that threatened U.S. existence was successfully avoided through diplomacy and alliances. A strong military served as a block to saber-rattling and threats of force. Presumably, the Soviets had their own civilian counterparts claiming they could "win" a nuclear war with the U.S.
Saner minds and peace prevailed. With the dawn of a new millennium, a reawakening stirred in the Middle East. Yet, the region seemed doomed to conflict, as stifled young people possessing few alternatives began to agitate for change. With political freedom obstructed, many young people turned toward religion as the instrument to gain a voice. Then, a stunned world awoke to horrific slaughter launched by the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
Oppressive Middle East regimes tottered and struggled; the United States declared three countries "evil". Iran was one nation. A year later, the United States invaded Iraq, another member of the axis, while ignoring the third member, nuclear capable North Korea. Iran, now pressured from either side and on its southern coast by U.S. forces actively engaged in combat operations, had reason for concern. You do not have to be a brilliant military strategist to consider that the U.S. would hesitate to attack Iran if it possessed nuclear weapons. While the U.S. waged war throughout the region, Iran began to develop a nuclear capability.
As the U.S. floundered in both Iraq and Afghanistan, she and her allies did not fail to notice the Iranian efforts. U.S.-imposed sanctions against Iran have a long history. In 2006, the Bush administration scored a significant success when the UN Security Council passed resolution 1696 demanding Iran suspend enrichment or face sanctions. President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton led efforts to tighten sanctions and to open dialog with Iran. The combined five nation effort culminated in the Iran Deal.
Little question exists that this nuclear deal exceeds historical standards for arms control agreements. Opponents of the agreement seem outraged that Iran is not forced to surrender rather than agree. However, nuclear experts support the administration. Many retired generals and admirals support the Iran Deal. A few Republicans and even an Israeli lawmaker are of the opinion that this agreement lowers the nuclear threat to Israel.
U.S. Republicans, Conservatives and the Israeli Government are playing politics with nuclear weapons. This must stop. People forget that diplomacy, not the military, won the Cold War. As the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel fighting in Lebanon demonstrate, military clout produced only continuous tension and more conflict. Iran and the U.S. will remain adversaries but the most important issue to remember is that this agreement addresses whether Iran develops a nuclear weapon. If Iran cheats; they will be caught.
The Iran nuclear deal is far stronger than any past agreements. Besides badly damaging US global leadership, voting against the agreement will ensure Iran gets nuclear weapons and end all but U.S. sanctions. Congressional Republicans playing politics with nuclear weapons -- unconscionable stupidity