« Blogs as tools for procrastination | Home | So why not Vox? »
Why Britain needs nukes
By Huw Leslie | December 4, 2006
OK, whilst I’m still fired up about this whole personal blogging thing, here’s my take on the story of the day:
Tony Blair has announced that he wants the UK to renew it’s nuclear deterrent. Currently we have four Vangard-class submarines which carry the Trident missiles. The missiles themselves are fine for the moment; it’s the submarines which need replacing.
People seem to confuse themselves between two entirely separate issues related to this topic; having the nuclear deterrent and using it. It is absolutely essential we maintain the nuclear deterrent because it puts us in a much stronger position in terms of international diplomacy (we get to be a member of the ‘nuclear club’) and it is a good disincentive to other countries looking to destroy Britain in a war to attack us using nuclear weapons if that country knows that we have the ability to fight back. The problem with states such as Iran and North Korea having nuclear weapons is that they are not stable democracies. Britain has had serious parliamentary government since the Glorious Revolution at the end of the seventeenth century, with ever increasing involvment of the people as respect for lower classes increased. Iran has had several revolutions as late as the 20th century, and North Korea is a dictorship, led by a mad, meglomaniac despot. Therefore, if I were Prime Minister, I would ensure that we had nuclear weapons in a usable state at all times.
I would not necessarily press the button. The circumstances under which I would use nuclear weapons would be severely limited. I like Aquinas and Augustine’s ideas about Just War. There are various tests which proposed millitary action must pass if it is to be morally acceptable. The principle centres around the concept of the lesser of two evils. Essentially, I would only press the button if it prevented or stopped a greater evil. I can’t think there are many circumstances in which that would apply.
We still need the nukes though!
Topics: Politics, Uncategorized |
I’m sure you could borrow some of ours, we have enough to destroy the world multiple times.
Posted by: Chris on December 4th, 2006 at 5:34 pm