Common Sense on Weapons of Mass Destruction
by By Graham, Ambassador Thomas, Jr.
Category: Political Science , International Relations , Arms Control

Ambassador Graham gets past the political buzzwords to define what he believes to be the real issues of WMDs. These include the lack of basic information about what WMDs are and can do and how US policies influence their creation, stockpiling and use. He asserts that the US needs to re-assume leadership of efforts to reduce or eliminate WMD stockpiles and opportunities for use. He also believes recent US policies undermine international treaties that have, so far, kept down distribution of WMDs. He notes in particular the lack of support of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by the US, and how failure of the NPT will turn the lack of control of Russian nuclear material into a major disaster. Graham also believes not enough is being done to reduce the risks of WMD use or sale by volatile states such as Syria, Egypt, Iran, Israel, India, Pakistan and Libya, and that North Korea's nuclear weapons and programs are particularly dangerous. He contrasts the actions of these so-called "rogue states" with the assertions of the US, Britain, France, and Russia that they have the right to use nuclear weapons regardless of their signing the NPT. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)