Critical aspects of WMD

Critical Aspects of Weapons of Mass Destruction and challenges to the global community:

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s, AKA Chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons) proliferation has been humankind’s greatest struggle since their creation.  Chemical weapons have a devastating effect on human beings, the environment, and contain chemical elements combined with explosive elements, while biological weapons contain a biological element combined with an explosive element, but can also be found in aerosol form, and nuclear weapons can be used as small or “dirty” bombs, bombs, and/ or can be launched via missile.  Countries that currently possess nuclear weapons are: The United States, Russia, France, Pakistan, Israel, the United Kingdom, China, India, and North Korea.  Some of the primary global concerns about the proliferation of WMD’s are: Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), the potential for terrorists to gain control of WMD’s, and the impact of WMD’s on human beings and the environment.  Additionally, the fact that Russia has them, China has them, Pakistan has them, North Korea has them, India has them, and because the aforementioned countries have them, the United States has them, is leading the International Community into a proliferation cycle that is never ending.  Ultimately, countries that possess WMD’s have them for both security, and as a deterrent.  Further, a growing global fear of WMD’s falling into the hands of ISIS/ISIL and other terrorist organizations is preeminent among leading global nations, GO’s, and NGO’s.
International concerns and tools used to prevent WMD proliferation:

Several treaties including the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1970, the START treaty, the SORT treaty, the SALT I/II treaties, and the New Start treaty have been created and implemented to induce or relax sanctions, restrict or allow the enrichment of uranium for proposed power/ public use, and to ensure that regular inspections can be made.  Diplomacy and politics are being used to prevent WMD proliferation through meetings among leaders to establish the foundations of agreement, the use of governmental decisions such as passing laws, or agreeing on treaties and to enforce sanctions.  Additionally, sanctions are being used to limit a nation state’s ability to prosper and flourish through the proliferation of WMD’s.  Further, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can perform inspections through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and can be used to prevent further WMD proliferation.
Additional steps that the International Community can use to prevent further WMD proliferation:

The International Community can and should create a new global initiative that demands and encourages positively - through diplomacy, politics, and the use of all means available - the destruction of WMD arsenals.  This initiative should take into account peaceful uses of nuclear power, the harmful nature of WMD’s to humanity and the environment, and the growing need for a more globally unified world that incites peace, rather than a call to arms.  Further, the global initiative should have international recognition as the governing order regarding WMD proliferation and create standards and policies that can be realistically achieved.  Additionally, this global initiative should require all nations to undergo frequent inspections, require accurate weapon counts to ensure the viability of a no cheating policy, and should require global compliance through effective policies, practices, measures, and treaties.

References:
In class notes
Global Issues (Payne) pp. 121-135
Great Decisions #3/205, What ISIS Really Wants
Global Issues, The Putin Doctrine
US National Security, Sarkesian, Williams and Cimbala, pp. 81&85
Global Issues #6/2011, Sanctions and Nonproliferation
Why is Israel’s Nuclear Arsenal Not Mentioned in the Iran Deal Debate? Landay, Johnathan S.