Nuclear Proliferation Chapter 7

Arms Race The beginning of a nuclear arms race would start with WWII. The U.S. fearing that the Germans and even the Soviets were developing an atomic bomb. The U.S. started to research on how to build one. The Manhattan Project would be the code name of this operation.

Arms Race With physicist and scientist like Oppenheimer and Einstein the U.S. developed a bomb. They detonated a test bomb at the Los Alamos, New Mexico site. The U.S. Would use two atomic bombs on Japan, to end the WWII. The bombs codenamed “fat man” and “ little boy.”

Arms Race This would start the nuclear arms race as, Russia would detonate a bomb in 1949 and U.K. in 1952, France in 1960 and China in 1964. Other players such as S. Africa, and former Soviet countries (Ukraine)would have them but not for long. India, Pakistan, and North Korea still obtain and they concern the world.

Nuclear Proliferation Countries developed more advanced weapons, ballistic missiles which can travel far distances and ICBM’s (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) can travel up to 9,000 miles. The fear of nuclear proliferation or the spread of nuclear weapons became of grave concern as more countries gained the technology. To control the spread the IAEA was formed in 1957 by the UN to get countries to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. SALT 1 was signed and ratified. While SALT 2 treaty was signed but never ratified between the Soviet Union and the U.S. To limit ICBM’s.

Nuclear Proliferation As the arms race between the U.S. And Soviet Union spiraled out of control. Their nuclear arsenal combined was enough to destroy the world several times over. Height of the Cold War(Russia 11,000 : U.S. 8,500) The need to limit testing resulted in a Limited Testing Ban Treaty of 1963. Limiting testing to underground only.(U.S., Soviet Union, and U.K. Signed it.) Later treaties would call for the destruction of nuclear arsenals by 1/3 of their stockpile.

Nuclear Proliferation Fear that weapons would spread as Pakistan began giving nuclear technology to countries like Iran, Libya, and North Korea. The Fear that Saddam Hussein had WMD lead to war with the U.S. In 2003. When the IAEA went in their was no proof that Iraq had any nuclear weapons. It eventually lead to war. In 2006, North Korea leader Kim Jong ‘IL blatantly told the world of its pursuit of nuclear weapons. It was label by then President Bush as an “Axis of Evil, ” along with Iran.

Nuclear Proliferation Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad strongly suggest that his country had the right to pursue nuclear technology for nuclear energy and not for weapons. The U.N. Security council urged by the U.S placed economic sanctions on Iran to inhibit its progress. A proposal by then President Ronald Reagan called for a missile defense system code named “Star Wars” (1980’s) that would protect the U.S. From ICBM’s, it would use satellites in outer space. It required more research and proved to costly; so it was never implemented. President wanted to reinvent the program that was less costly.