Cabatingan

Kristin Cabatingan
Mr. Rogers
U.S. Government
2 November 2015
Nuclear Proliferation
Imagine your family, your home, your city, and your nation obliterated by the result by
nuclear weapons. This catastrophic event is very much possible as long as nuclear proliferation
exists. Nuclear proliferation regards the spread of nuclear weapons to nations that are not
recognized as Nuclear Weapon States by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, also known as
NPT. The NPT is an international agreement to inhibit the spread of nuclear weapons and support
the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Nuclear technology was first created for military
purposes during World War II. The worlds first nuclear bomb was dropped over the city of
Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. The effects of a nuclear bomb were witnessed, and ever since, nuclear
weapons are known as the most dangerous weapons ever used by a military. These weapons of
destruction are created through essential materials known as plutonium or uranium. Once
constructed through a very difficult process, it has the ability to kill thousands, injure millions,
and destruct a natural environment for long periods of time. Therefore, the prevention of nuclear
proliferation should be of the utmost priority. This joint resolution, which encourages the
president to impose sanctions on nations that attempt to create nuclear weapons, should be
passed because the proliferation of nuclear weapons enables terrorists to seize opportunities in
acquiring nuclear material to create their own nuclear weapons, increases the probability of a
nuclear war, and poses a major risk to global public health.

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There are numerous issues regarding nuclear proliferation that have been proven to serve
as a global threat, such as the possibility of a terrorist group acquiring or creating nuclear
weapons. The possibility of a terrorist attaining and utilizing nuclear weapons serves as a major
threat to global security and world peace. If a terrorist group succeeds in attaining nuclear
weapons and utilizes it against nations, the effects would be catastrophic, As former U.N.
Secretary General Kofi Annan warned, a nuclear terrorist attack would push tens of millions of
people into dire poverty, creating a second death toll throughout the developing world,
(Gottlieb 184). Terrorism has had a profound effect within the United States; in particular, the
terrorist attack on the Twin Towers by Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda succeeded in killing
thousands of innocent civilians and traumatizing the nation. The effects of a terrorist group
dropping a nuclear bomb on a city would be twice more calamitous than the September 11
attacks a nuclear bomb has the capacity to kill millions and obliterate an entire city; the
aftereffects would be beyond repair. It has been proven that at least four terrorist groups,
including Al-Qaeda, have publicly portrayed strong ambition in obtaining nuclear materials to
create nuclear weapons, In an interview with Time Magazine, Bin Laden asserted that acquiring
weapons of any type was a Muslim religious duty. When asked whether he was seeking to
obtain chemical or nuclear weapons, Bin Laden replied, Acquiring weapons for the defense of
Muslims is a religious duty, (Hughes, 13). Terrorist groups rising ambition to attain nuclear
materials, such as plutonium and uranium, to create weapons is possible due to the rise of nuclear
proliferation. The proliferation of nuclear weapons allows state sponsors of terrorism, The U.S.
Department of States current formal list of state sponsors of terrorism includes Cuba, Iran, North
Korea, Sudan, and Syria (Byman), to obtain materials that create nuclear weapons, thus giving
terrorist groups an opportunity to acquire nuclear materials. Only a minuscule amount of

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plutonium or uranium is needed to create a weapon that is able to kill thousands and injure
millions. If a terrorist group occupied a nuclear weapon and decides to use it against a specific
target, the nation would be forced to retaliate. Consequently, nuclear proliferation strongly
increases the possibility of an outbreak of nuclear war.
Nuclear Proliferation is the leading cause of the increasing possibility of nuclear warfare.
The more power a nation has, the more prestige they attain in regards to international ranking. In
order to gain power, nations focus on increasing their military fortitude. The possession of
nuclear weapons serves as the means of gaining such power. This leads to the spread of nuclear
technology, also known as nuclear proliferation. However, the more states that obtain or create
nuclear weapons, the chance of a nuclear war breakout grow. The first threat of nuclear
proliferation became present when several states refused to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty, Proliferation is also encouraged by the fact that nearly fifty nations - including
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South
Africa, Spain, and Vietnam - have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, (Taylor). In refusing
to the sign the treaty, these states have presented themselves as a risk to global safety. The NPT is
an agreement to end the nuclear arms race and withdraw the use of nuclear technology for
military purposes. Therefore, these states have suggested the continuation of nuclear
proliferation, thus posing a threat to nations who have signed the NPT and the increase of nuclear
warfare. Nuclear proliferation became publicly evident due to the exposure of a nuclear black
market, led by Abdul Qadeer Khan, known as the father of the Pakistani bomb, A shrewd
businessman, he saw potential for financial gain between his network of suppliers and a
burgeoning market for nuclear arms. North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Libya were foremost on
a list of those at least window-shopping for such capability. An ongoing investigation reveals that

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the Khan network played a significant role, beginning in the early 1990s, in the development of
Iranian and North Korean enrichment technology. In exchange, North Korea appears to have
shared its ballistic missile technology with Pakistan, (Lutes). This nuclear black market, known
as The Khan network, initiated and catalyzed the creation a nuclear bomb within North Korea
and Iran. The exposure of the Khan network has proven that the threat of nuclear proliferation is
evident and is stronger than it has ever been before. As more nuclear weapons are possessed by
states, there is an increase of possibility that unstable governments within these developing states
could detonate a nuclear bomb upon another nation, thus creating a nuclear war. The effects of a
nuclear war would be disastrous, A major global nuclear war could kill up to 400-500 million
people mainly in the United States, Soviet Union and Europe, and to a lesser extent China and
Japan, (Martin). A global nuclear war poses a threat to the international community. Due to the
high amount of estimated causalities produced through a nuclear war, it would be very difficult
to restore and reestablish an environment in which survivors would be forced to live in. These
survivors would not only face the difficulties of attempting to survive after the effects of a
nuclear war, but would also face health conditions and diseases rooted from the detonations of a
nuclear bomb.
Nuclear proliferation increases the chance of denotations of nuclear bombs across the
world that not only kills thousands of people, but produces severe health effects upon the human
body. One of the most dangerous effects of nuclear bombs, in addition to the high amount of
causalities, is the release of high dosages of radiation. Radiation consists of neutrons, electrons,
gamma rays, and alpha particles. These particles are able to infiltrate the human body, thus
damaging biological cells. Once a nuclear bomb is detonated, it releases forms of nuclear
radiation, such as direct nuclear radiation, thermal radiation, and fallout. Direct nuclear radiation

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involves nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, which occurs to produce the explosion release of a
nuclear bomb. Thermal radiation can cause second-degree burns to the human skin and cause
major fires. Fallout relates to a wide-range of radioactive spread. The history of radiation effects
have been staggering, The bomb dropped on Hiroshima caused the immediate deaths of
approximately 200,000 people and the subsequent deaths of thousands more from blast and
thermal injuries, radiation sickness, and malignancies, (Sidel). The incident that occurred by the
Hiroshima nuclear bomb portrays the extent of nuclear radiation to the human body. The
involvement of direct nuclear radiation, thermal radiation, and fallout caused from nuclear
bombs produces more causalities than the explosion itself. When radiation particles damages
cells within the human body, it is producing a cancer, or malignancies, one of the leading causes
of death. One of these cancers involves production of blood cells, which is known as leukemia,
Exposure to moderate and high doses of ionizing radiation increases the subsequent risk of
leukemia. This evidence is based upon studies of the Japanese survivors of the atomic bombings
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, (Wakeford). This is caused by the exposure of radiation to
the bone marrow. Because nuclear radiation can penetrate the human body, bone marrow is
easily exposed to nuclear radiation. The bone marrow produces both red blood cells, which
transports oxygen from the lungs to the bodys tissues, and white blood cells, which fight
infections and diseases. With leukemia, which is caused by radiation, the human body cannot
perform vital, bodily functions in order to survive. Another severe health effect includes the
thyroid gland, which is specifically affected by the exposure to nuclear radiation, Evidence has
accumulated that the thyroid gland is uniquely sensitive to the effects of radiation. There is some
evidence that measurable increases in thyroid cancer can occur with low external doses of
radiation. A finite risk at low doses of that magnitude is consistent with risks for other solid

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cancers reported for the Japanese atomic-bomb survivors, (Institute of Medicine Committee on
Thyroid Screening Related to I-131 Exposure). Direct nuclear radiation can destroy a part of or
the whole of a thyroid gland. The thyroid gland plays a vital role in the human body because it
regulates metabolism, growth development, heart rate, and many more important functions. A
damaged thyroid can cause severe, long-term health issues, along with the many other health
issues nuclear radiation initiates. Although some civilians are able to survive a nuclear bomb
attack, they attain problematic health issues that will drastically decrease their survival and
prosper rate.
Opposing views claim that a terrorist group does not have the capability to create nuclear
weapons, and that nuclear weapons serve as a force in preventing another war after World War II.
Admittedly, the process of creating a nuclear bomb is formidable even for nations with advanced
nuclear programs, let alone terrorist groups. The likelihood of terrorists being able to create such
advanced technology seems almost impossible. In addition, after the first nuclear bomb was
dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, the world was both shocked and petrified of the
devastating effects of a detonation of a nuclear bomb. Consequently, it discourages states from
initiating wars involving nuclear weapons. However, once a terrorist group obtains nuclear
materials, they would be able to create crude nuclear bombs, U.S. Office of Technology
Assessment states, A small group of people, none of whom have ever had access to the
classified literature, could design and build a crude nuclear explosive device, (Allison). A wellfunded and organized group, such as Al-Qaeda, would be able to then create a crude nuclear
weapon because there are no steps within the process that requires experts or advanced
technology to complete. The essential material in building a crude nuclear weapon is enriched
uranium, which is becoming easier to access due to nuclear proliferation. A terrorist attack using

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a crude nuclear device still has the capability to kill hundreds, if not thousands, and cause
numerous consequences. Furthermore, opposing views claim that nuclear weapons reduce the
probability of war due to fear of nuclear war between nations. Though this opinion is
widespread, it is not true and is not wise to believe. To believe that nuclear weapons cause peace
is to be in denial, Through the policy of deterrence, nuclear weapons have become a force for
peace. However, the policy of deterrence does not ensure that peace will endure, (Harkabi, 277).
It is only possible if all nations acted rational under all circumstances. However, all leaders of
nations have flaws and can make impulsive decisions. The negative effects of nuclear war is too
great to be ignored, President Ronald Reagan pronounced clearly and with conviction that
there can be only one policy for preserving our precious civilization in this modern age. A
nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought, (Gottemoeller). The effects of nuclear
war outbreak would be a catastrophe worldwide. To avoid such an issue is to jeopardize not only
ones nation, but the rest of the world. A nuclear war can never be won because countless of
states would be annihilated. The only alternative to avoid a nuclear breakout is to completely
inhibit nuclear proliferation and prevent nations from continuing to create nuclear weapons.
Nuclear Proliferation is an extremely dangerous and serious threat to global security as it
serves a primary role in the possibility of terrorists detonating nuclear weapons on the target of
choice, increase the possibility of establishing a nuclear war, and impose detrimental health
affects to the human body. Nuclear proliferation poses a major risk to the survival of mankind. If
the government refuses to inhibit the spread of nuclear weapons, the likelihood of nuclear
terrorism and war dramatically increases. Nuclear violence has been proven to be intolerable to
the safety of the international community, for in a nuclear weapon dominated world, a nation is
uncertain about survival or complete eradication. Furthermore, there is a possibility that a

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nuclear catastrophe can lead to the extinction of the human species if the rate of nuclear
proliferation continues to grow over time. Preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons is not
impossible. It must be a priority within the government. With tenacious action, there is a major
possibility that proliferation can be dramatically reduced, and in time, completely cease to serve
as a problem. In imposing sanctions on nations that continue to attempt to create nuclear
weapons, those nations are highly encouraged to stop due to the severe effects of sanctions on an
economy. The inhibition of nuclear proliferation is vital for it would be extremely beneficial to
the international community by establishing stability, security and safety to human kind. This can
only be achieved by the governments determination to stop nuclear proliferation.

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Works Cited
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