Proliferation Of Nuclear Weapons example essay topic

What is the status of the international nonproliferation of nuclear weapons? Outline Title I. Introduction A. 'Floating Chernobyl'; B. Something to think about II. Statistics A. Russia's nuclear arsenal B. US' nuclear arsenal. Treaties. START IB.

START IIC. START V. THREATS A. New Power Landscape. Broken Command. Broken Army. Status of Other Countries. Iraq.

North Korea. Iran. Libya. Cuba.

Pakistan. India VI. Conclusion What is the status of the international nonproliferation of nuclear weapons? One day on a cold, bleak Russian night a world disaster was almost destined to happen. Alexander Kuzminykh, a 19-year old teenager, was aboard the submarine the Ver when he attacked the sentry and killed him with a chisel. Panicking he grabbed the guard " sAK-47 and killed seven more crew members on the way to the torpedo bay where he locked himself in.

This suicidal teenager the stayed in the bay for twenty hours threatening to blow it up and potentially causing a 'Floating Chernobyl'; (Paddock-the star. com). He talked this mother and then he just killed himself. When scientists and nuclear activists got a hold of this story 'it sent shivers through their spine'; (Paddock-the star. com). This was because one day they know that one suicidal teenager will actually have the guts to just blow himself up with all those nuclear warheads.

Russian officials were quick to say,' the submarine and the people (in the vicinity) were safe. ' ; A former Russian navy captain said, ' It is really scary that one day the use of nuclear arms may depend on the sentiments of someone who is feeling blue, who has gotten out of bed on the wrong side and does not feel like living'; (Paddock-the star. com). Horror stories among Russian officials have been told. They say that there are 'Nuclear-submarine reactor cores that sit unguarded in warehouses at the Vladivostok naval base, a research institute outside Moscow that can't afford to dispose of Cobalt-60 reactor-fuel rods; and scientists say the rods pose the threat of another Chernobyl. And when workers at a ship yard near Murmansk stole 4.5 kilograms of partially enriched uranium, the investigating police official said the theft 'was easier than taking a sack of potatoes'; (Wouters-abc. com). In July 1994, Turkish Police in Istanbul seized 22 pounds of uranium smuggled out of Azerbaijan.

In August 1994, a Lufthansa flight from Moscow landed in Munich carrying a lead-lined suitcase filled with 350 grams of plutonium that the smugglers had planned to sell for$70,000 a gram. In December 1994, Czech police found an astonishing 3 kilograms of highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium in the backseat of a parked car in Prague. To think about something just think that it only takes 10 kilograms of highly enriched uranium to build a bomb with the firepower of the 'Little Boy'; . 'Little Boy'; , by the way, killed 75,000 people in Hiroshima back in World War II. If someone was to unleash three to five kilograms of plutonium out in the open in Manhattan, it wouldn't kill many people, but it would severely contaminate a huge area of Manhattan making thousands of people to move and bring the world's financial center to a halt. In these following paragraphs I am going to throw you a bunch of numbers, but these numbers can't be confirmed because we don't know exactly how many weapons Russia or the United States has because either one can be secretly stockpiling nuclear weapons without the public or the other nations having clue.

Russia's nuclear inventory, according to recent count, consists of 6,240 warheads, more than 500 nuclear powered vessels, 29 power plants, and hundreds of storage sites for fissionable material which is the major of the problem. These sites have scientists that usually go without pay for months. The United States is said to have roughly around 3,000-3,500 warheads, but the UShas roughly 5,000 warheads in reserve. These reserved warheads cause much tension with our relations with Russia because technically the UShas 8,000 warheads.

Under the START I treaty the US spent 1.6 billion dollars to help Russia upgrade its nuclear facilities in hopes of preventing a catastrophic accident or more illegal seizure of its fissionable material. Under another pact the US will give Russia 30 million dollars to create jobs in 10 highly secured sites. This pact will help both countries eliminate 50 tons of plutonium. With the START II ratified by the Duma (Russian Parliament), which President Boris Yeltsin said they would soon, it would cut down Russia's weapons to roughly 3,000-3,500. US has already ratified and started cutting down on their nuclear weapons. Also, after that by the year 2007 US and Russia will start the START which will cut down the weapons to roughly 2,000-2,500 weapons apiece.

A lot of treaties have been passed after the Cold War. A lot of effort has been given by both sides. In the following paragraph I am going tot talk about the three major treaties. The START (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks) treaties will ultimately cut down weapons massively. In 1991 the START process began. After the declared end of the Cold War some type of treaty had to be set up because both sides had no need for that many warhead which can get costly and dangerous.

The solution was the START I treaty. In the START I it says that 'US and Russia will reduce the number of strategic nuclear warheads deployed by the two countries from 13,000-11,000, respectively, to about 8,000 each'; (web). This treaty was a milestone for both sides at the time. Then at the 'US-Russian Summit in Helsinki, Finland on March 20-21, 1997, yielded dramatic unexpected results. President Clinton and President Yeltsin agreed to begin talks on a new round of nuclear arms reduction'; (ftp. uc susa. org). This new round will be the START which will be passed by both countries as soon as the Russian Duma passes START II.

START II, already passed and implemented by the US, was passed in January of 1993. This treaty reduces both sides warheads to 3,500 apiece. Also it bans the deployment of land-based missiles with more than one warhead. START is intended to primarily make it easier for the Russian Duma to pass START II.

START will deal with strategic nuclear warhead inventories and the destruction of strategic nuclear warheads. This treaty would reduce the warheads of both sides to 2,000-2,500 by 2007. More importantly, this new agreement allows both sides to share data on their total warhead inventories and to verify that individual warheads have been dismantled. UCS is pushing for the agreement to be interpreted as covering the fissile materials, plutonium and highly enriched uranium, coming out of the warheads as well. Even more, Clinton and Yeltsin agreed to discuss controls on sea-launched cruise missiles and tactical nuclear weapons, which are also not covered by existing treaties. Another treaty that has been passed in 1988 is the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.

This treaty eliminates and bans all intermediate, ground launched ballistic and cruise missiles with range from 300 to 3,400 miles. These treaties help stop the nuclear proliferation but as long as Russia continues to have its economical problems nuclear proliferation will always be a problem. There are three major threats to the US that further the cause of nuclear proliferation. The first threat is the new way the power is divided up.

The second threat is a broken Russian command. The third, last, and the biggest threat is the broken army that Russia continues to have. The first threat is one that can be resolved peacefully. This threat relies on the action of NATO and the US.

This threat comes about because the push for a new and improved NATO comes at a time when 'Russia relies more than ever on its unstable nuclear forces for its defense'; (Wouters-abc. com). The idea of an enlarged NATO moving into former Soviet Union clearly poses a threat to Russia. Russian Defense Minister Igor Rodionov told reporters,' ; In general I personally think, and will think, that this is a mistake to expand NATO eastward,' ; he further says,' ; and this problem may actually damage our relationship'; (abc news. com) It is predicted already that former soviet satellitesCzechRepublic, Hungary, and Poland will get an invite to join NATO in the summer of 1999. Russia will be outraged because with this new and enlarged NATO Russia's failure as an enduring superpower will be over. Further, despite the end of the Cold War, US hasn't relaxed on nuclear tension with Russia. At a moment's notice we can wreak havoc on Russia unleashing 3,000 nuclear warheads, but also remember Russia can do the same to us.

You are probably thinking,' ; How about the de targeting agreement of 1994?' ; Well the agreement actually gives us ten seconds to say our prayers. This is because 'just because we de targeted the nukes the coordinates can be brought up with a push of a button or two. ' ; (Wouters-abc news. com) The second threat is a broken command. Russia is currently a very unstable nation. At any point one of Yeltsin's commanders can just start nuclear havoc.

In 1991 a plan against Mikhail Gorbachev stripped him of his nuclear command and transferred it to his prime minister Boris Yeltsin. If just one of the three commanders had not disobeyed Yeltsin's orders then there would be one nation torn apart by two hostile and nuclear factions. Further down the command and unsanctioned launch can happen at a moment's notice. Russia's nuclear forces suffer from shortages of money, supplies, housing, and trained personnel.

Some nuclear troops have threatened to unleash nuclear destruction among the world if they do not get paid and some sort of housing. Like the Americans, Russians have locks on their missiles that prevent them from launch but due to severe lack of money and supplies several of these locks break down and instead of fixing the troops just shut them down. 'There have been signs of insubordination found in some nuclear units that raises the question what steps they might take to express their unhappiness'; (Wouters-abc news. com). These people in desperation can just sell some warheads in the notorious black markets. These Russian officials go months without pay and they might sell a nuke just to keep food on the table. The third and biggest threat is Russia's broken army.

Russia lacks supplies, money, and housing to take care of their huge army. Lately, they have been cutting down troops but yet it is not enough. In Moscow it is common to see once proud veterans of the old Red Army begging on the streets for some food and living in tents on street corners. Even the best of the Russian military, The Strategic Rocket Forces, is not immune from this economical plague. Retired General Lev Rokhlin said,' ; The army is being destroyed in a catastrophic, snowball fashion'; (abc news. com). Defense Minister Rodionov said,' ; the underfunded military could conceivably lose control over a nuclear arsenal'; (abc news. com).

This is one of the most serious problems to nuclear proliferation. According to recent inspections-Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Libya, Cuba, India, and Pakistan have some type of nuclear capability. Many of these countries are not part of the 1968 Nuclear Non proliferation Treaty, so they are part of the proliferation problem. The Indian army's chief of staff said, 'Don't fight the United States unless you have nuclear weapons'; (abc news. com). Russia has already sold nuclear reactors to Iran, India, and Cuba. Iran has signed the treaty but the other two have not which make the other powers uneasy.

Iraq started their nuclear program right after they invaded Kuwait. By the time the Persian Gulf War began they were several weeks away from building their own bomb. The Iraqis learned about bomb making equipment from several other countries and got uranium from French and Russian supplied reactors. At the end of the war the inspectors found the rods and saw the ends were sawed off. This means that the Iraqis we retaking bomb grade fuel from the rods. North Korea is already said to have one or tow bombs.

Secretary of Defense William Perry said, 'to ignore the existing weaponry, and only take action if North Korea develops a significant nuclear weapons capability. ' ; North Korea has promised to freeze their program but has since invested in a ballistic-missile production program. Iran is five years away from building nuclear weapons. Iran argues they have the right to harness nuclear energy for good, but US doubts this because of the huge amounts of people training as nuclear specialists and the huge amounts of oil reserves.

Libya's, with Mu ammar Gadh afi in power, likelihood that it will obtain bomb grade uranium or plutonium is slim but they have shown capability of buying, building, and launching missiles. Cuba is only involved it this picture because they ar e planning with the Russians to build a reactor in Cuba. Pakistan my be the most advanced country. American spies reported the sale of 5,000 ring magnets (used to enrich uranium for the manufacturer of nuclear bombs) to Pakistan from China. US protested but China continued. Pakistani government has agreed not to build any more nuclear bombs-its siting on 10 or 15 weapons- in return for the delivery of 38 US F-16 fighter jets which has concerns for what they might use these jets for.

India is going to make a deal with Russia for 2 billion dollars in return for two nuclear reactors that they will probably use to make bombs. Most proliferation of nuclear weapons occur in these countries. It is also big in eastern Europe with the old soviet satellites and Latin America also wants to join in this elite club. A lot has been done on the proliferation of nuclear materials. We have issued the START treaties and the INF treaty to limit the weapons themselves and the spread of them. We have given Russia million in aid to resolve this problem.

Russia itself has tried hard to get themselves out of this economical slump and emerge again as a superpower, but as long as Russia is so vast and costly they will continue to be in this slump for much more time to come. This slump is the major and most deadly cause for nuclear proliferation. As long as Russia continues to be in this slump nuclear proliferation will always be a problem. So to conclude my essay and the question is that the status of nuclear weapons right now looks very bleak.

Bibliography Achieving Deeper Reductions in Nuclear Arsenals. [Online] Available web Robert J. The Nuclear Roundtable. [Online] Available web October 4, 1998 Paddock, Richard C... Russia's nukes: Fear proliferates. [Online] Available web October 8, 1998 The Future of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy-Summary. [Online] Available web October 14, 1998 Wouters, Jorgen.

Nuclear Proliferation. [Online] Available web The outline The introduction states the main topic or idea of the outline, and the conclusion summarizes it. Each sub-topic describes the main idea for a paragraph. Supporting information and details for a sub-topic are listed under the sub-topic with each piece of information listed separately.

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