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What is a Nuclear Weapon?
A device
that releases nuclear energy in an
explosive manner as the result of nuclear chain reactions involving the
fission or fusion or both, of atomic nuclei. Basically it is any device
that harnesses the immense power of the atom to create a bomb or
explosive device. Even more simplified, they are essentially nothing
more than huge bombs - with a unique exception - they have the
potential to destroy entire cities. A typical nuclear tipped
warhead might have a power of one megaton of TNT. This means it
would explode with the power of 1,000,000 tons of TNT. To grasp the
size and quantity of this much TNT, imagine a field 300x300 meters
long, and stack it with TNT 300 meters tall. The same reactions that
occur with that much TNT is all packed into a nuclear device, and can
be made ready to for deployment in something the size of a small boat.
What are the immediate and lingering effects of a
nuclear blast?
Nuclear
explosions produce both immediate and
delayed destructive effects. Immediate effects (blast and shockwave,
radiation) are produced and cause significant destruction within
seconds or minutes of a nuclear detonation. The delayed and lingering
effects (radioactive fallout
and other possible environmental
contamination) inflict damage
over an extended period ranging from
hours to centuries.
(The
mushroom cloud of the atomic
bombing of strategic port city, Nagasaki, in 1945 lifted nuclear
fallout some 60,000 feet (18 km) above the epicenter.)
The missile or
method of deployment would be
detonated slightly above the ground, to extend the shockwave over the
desired target, and maximize the bombs effect. The first chain of
events would be the heat and extreme light, scorching everything for a
few mile radius (depending on the size) in nearly 20,000°F flames.
The air itself would literally be sucked up, and seem to catch fire.
Seconds after the initial impact, the shockwave would follow. This
would level buildings, homes, and throw cars around like paper in the
wind. Imagine having a hurricane
made
of fire, trees
discintigrate in the hot wind, and structures crumble like dust. The
shockwave would be so powerful that the air would not be able to absorb
it all. Some energy would create an EMP (electromagnetic) pulse
that would destroy electrical circuits miles from ground zero, perhaps
even knocking out orbiting satellites.
After the explosion
itself, anyone on the edge of
the explosion (who were lucky enough to survive) would have melted
flesh and severe burns, the skin would literally fall off the bone.
Anyone who had seen the blast from such a distance would have permanent
loss of vision.
In the days,
weeks and months to follow, anyone
exposed to the are around ground zero would begin to suffer the effects
of radiation and
nuclear fallout. It would - and
has been an awful
sight to see.
(Damage
from Hiroshima and
Nagasaki after nuclear devices were used to end WWII - the cities we
basically wiped off the map)
Who is in posession of Nuclear Weapons?
The amount of weapons posessed by these
countries is more than enough to destroy the world (all the major
cities, and cause a nuclear
winter) many times over.
The following is a
list of nations that have
admitted the possession of nuclear weapons, and the approximate number
of warheads under their control. This list is informally known in
global politics as the "Nuclear Club".
- United States - 10,640
- Russia - 8,600
- People's Republic of China - 400
- France - 350
- United Kingdom - 200
- India - 60-90
- Pakistan - 24-48
From a high of
65,000 weapons in 1985, there were
about 40,000 nuclear weapons in the world in 2002-2003.
Countries believed
to have or sometimes suspected
of having at least one unconfirmed nuclear weapon currently, or at some
point in history, or research programs with a realistic chance of
producing a nuclear weapon in the near future:
- Israel
- It is questionable whether Israel should be classed as a "suspected
state" at this point. Israel is not a member of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty and refuses to officially admit or deny having
a nuclear arsenal, or to having developed nuclear weapons, or even to
having a nuclear weapons program. Although former Prime Minister Israel
- It is questionable whether Israel should be classed as a "suspected
state" at this point. Israel is not a member of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation TreatyShimon Peres unofficially acknowledged this
last fact in the summer of 1998, extensive information about this
program in Dimona was disclosed by physician Mordechai Vanunu in 1986,
and imagery analysts can identify weapon bunkers, mobile missile
launchers, and launch sites in satellite photographs. It is clear
though that Israel can deploy or employ nuclear weapons at will, and it
is suspected to possess nuclear weapons by the International Atomic
Energy Agency. According to the National Resources Defense Council and
the Federation of American Scientists, they may possess 100-200
weapons. However until it admits to having an actual stockpile of
weapons, it will be retained on the "suspect" list for the present
time. (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/index.html)
- Iran -
Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and says its interest
in nuclear technology, including enrichment, was for civilian purposes
only, but the CIA claims this to be a cover for a nuclear weapons
program. (http://www.nti.org/e_research/e1_iran_nch.html)
(http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/nuke/index.html)
The Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi stated on the intentions of
his country's nuclear ambitions: "Iran has a high technical capability
and has to be recognized by the international community as a member of
the nuclear club. This is an irreversible path." (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122526,00.html)
- North Korea
- On January 10, 2003 North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty. Allegedly they have since announced their
possession of several nuclear weapons to US diplomats.
- Ukraine
- signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Inherited about 5,000
nuclear weapons when it became independent in 1991. It transferred all
of these to Russia by 1996. (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/ukraine/)
However recent news has surfaced that due to a clerical error, Ukraine
may still possess several hundred warheads which were not accounted for
in the armaments repatriation move 14 years ago. In any case, even if
Ukraine does possess these weapons, they are technically missing and
not in a deployed state or any part of Ukraine's defense posture.
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3568139.stm)
- Australia
- From 1950 to the early 1970s Australia first attempted to gain access
to British nuclear technology, then investigated a fully indigenous
nuclear program on a number of occasions, going so far as to plan and
begin clearing a site for a plutonium-producting nuclear reactor at
Jarvis Bay in 1969, but abandoned its efforts at that time. Australia
has large indigenous supplies of uranium. Currently Australia's uranium
exports policy prevents export for military purposes, but there have
been allegations about Australian uranium ending up in nuclear weapons.
Curiously for an industrialized nation that is also a major uranium
supplier, Australia has no nuclear power plants. There are however,
several nuclear reactors in Australia that produce radioactive
materials mainly for medical purposes. Australia has signed the
Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty and is now one of the strongest supporters of
anti-profileration efforts. However in recent years several illicit
internal informants within the ADF have leaked rumours that Australia
received a small number of warheads from allies (most probably the
United States) during the high-risk tension with Indonesia while
intervening in East Timor. (http://www.abc.net.au/tv/documentaries/stories/s650355.htm)
(Info from
wikipedia :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_nuclear_weapons )
That's a lotta
weapons!
So, why does everyone need these instruments of
destruction?
The race
to harness the power of the atom
started in the World War II. The Manhattan
Project, or more fully, the Manhattan
Engineering District Project -
was an effort during World War
II to develop the first nuclear weapons by the United States with
assistance from the United Kingdom and Canada. Both German and Allied
scientists were desperate to develop the bomb, knowing that if the
other side developed one first the war would be over - in a flash. Of
course the US was successful in developing the technology first and
used it to force Japan to surrender - but their tactical superiority
all changed when Russia announced in 1949 that they too had deveolped
the weapons.
The two countires
began to stockpile their nuclear weapons, in an
effort to be more prepared than the other - should one of them attack.
Russia and America were locked in an arms race of the worst kind, both
frantically producing thousands of nuclear based weapons and warheads.
However, it was only America that pursued the policy of MAD - mutually
assured destruction. This meant - and still does mean - allowing every
American citizen to be held hostage by Russia. It means our only
defence to a nuclear attack is one of our own, which does not save the
lives of any of the hundreds of millions of people that would die in
the strike. Isn't that some wonderful news? Of course we're 'buddies'
with Russian now, so we don't have to imminently fear them like through
the 1950's through the middle 1980's.
Who would want to use a weapon of this nature?
Given that
if either side of a massive super
power country like the US or Russia were to use a weapon of this
nature, the other would assuredly retaliate by launching their arsenal
causing mutual destruction. This would mean hundreds of millions of
casualties - depending on who else got involved. So what incentive do
others have to try to acquire them? Terrorists and extremists who could
potentially use them to either blackmail or detonate - to get the
attention they demand.
Many terrorists
would dream of creating such a weapon, but it would be
cheaper and more effective to get ready made devices from the former
USSR. The greatest risk from these could be the 'suitcase bombs' -
nuclear weapons the size of briefcases, which a terrorist could simply
walk into a city, a building, or a neighborhood with. The effects of
such an attack would be terrifying.
Why are suitcase bombs such a great risk?
Russia is
know to have created around 200
suitcase bombs - nuclear
weapons the size of suitcases.
According to a
Soviet defector called Aleksander Lebed it has seemingly lost track of more than 100 - each of which could
kill more than 50,000 people (depending on where detonated). Many of
these bombs were distributed and hidden in present day US hostile
countries. Possibly the worst effect of a terrorist nuclear device
would be that it could in fact trigger a nuclear war. If America
thought Russia or an enemy country had used nuclear weapons against it,
it would not hesitate to retaliate... so one small nuclear device could
in fact trigger events that would killion millions.
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