During the Cold War, the US and USSR engaged in a form of nuclear rivalry known as Mutually Assured
During the Cold War, the US and USSR engaged in a form of nuclear rivalry known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). While the Cold War ended in 1991, nuclear weapons continue to threaten our common future. There are still 27,000 nuclear weapons in the world. Twelve thousand of these are deployed, and 3,500 are on hair-trigger alert, ready to be fired in moments. ---- In addition to their constant threat to destroy cities, countries and civilization, three aspects of nuclear policy that I most deplore are: first, they kill indiscriminately “ men, women and children, civilians and combatants" and are thus illegal under international law; second, because they are long-distance killing machines that target innocent people, they are cowardly weapons; and third, they undermine democracy by placing such enormous power to destroy in the hands of a single individual or small cabal.
Source: SIXTY-TWO YEARS AFTER THE HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI BOMBINGS By David Krieger David Krieger is president of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (www.wagingpeace.org).