Rather than talking about the pandemic, I want to recognize an upcoming milestone that is a significant achievement for all mankind. It is also something that I and many others have dedicated most of our adult life to create and maintain such a significant achievement.
It is Nuclear Deterrence!
On 9 August 1945, the “Fat Man” atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and led to the fall of Imperial Japan. From that day until now no nuclear weapon has been exploded to destroy any enemy target. Instead, we have seen a build-up of nuclear arsenals to serve as the mutual deterrent against any aggressive actions by countries that also have obtained nuclear capability.
The current situation is one that has relied on the principal of Mutual Assured Destruction.
I consider Mutual Assured Destruction as a “Positive Madness.” In other words, nuclear powers must be aware of the madness of starting a nuclear engagement that will likely lead to both sides losing more than they can afford to lose, not to speak of the impact on the rest of the world. In my opinion, Mutual Assured Destruction is Positive Madness, meaning it keeps two opponents from attempting to destroying each other.
However, we see many other dangers throughout the world, such as the pandemic, global warming, starvation and other concerns such as racial and income inequalities.
I now believe we have Mutual Assured Destruction in a reasonable stand-off position as witnessed by the past 75 years. I am hopeful that the pandemic will be resolved but, probably not without a substantial price being paid in lives.
Whatever else there may be, I will hope that we all can deal with what we know now and be in a state of mind that will let us conquer whatever rises up over the horizon.
Dr. Richard “Dick” Walker is a retired full Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Walker is a System Engineer/General Scientist (Information Systems Design) involved in strategic warfighting, arms control, weapon systems analysis and technical assessment of weapon effects and target response. He has extensive experience over the past 55 years in strategic arms control and nuclear warfighting theory, capability, and analysis for both offensive and defensive forces. Dr. Walker is a member of the LALO Publishing Editorial Review Committee.
