of desolation The disasters caused by hurricanes Helen and Milton were devastating and difficult for Americans to understand. In parts of North Carolina, asheville It resembled the European cities destroyed at the end of World War II. The destruction of shopping centers, housing, and what was basic social infrastructure was mind-boggling.
nevertheless Milton Although it was not as explosive as feared and the death toll was coincidentally limited, it demonstrated the danger of underestimating the power of nature.
But here's a punitive thought experiment. Suppose a relatively small nuclear weapon were detonated over central Florida. That would have made the damage from the two hurricanes relatively minor, especially in terms of loss of life.
This comparison is important. With events in the Middle East threatening to escalate into a regional war, the question of what to do with Iran's nuclear infrastructure is not an easy one.
Israel is attacked by Iranian missiles ( killed one Palestinian), targeting Tehran's nuclear facilities is an option. President Biden is highly recommended Don't let Israel choose this option.
Deeply mindful of the devastation caused by these two hurricanes,forceConsidering Iran's activities and nuclear fusion, fission (nuclear) and nuclear fusion (thermonuclear) are important.China's nuclear weapons buildup.
North Korea also cannot be ignored, as Kim Jong-un reminds us of its capabilities as well as the means to deliver nuclear weapons.ballistic missile. And nuclear terrorism cannot be ignored.
The power of these weapons is immeasurable. The power of a thermonuclear weapon is measured in millions of tons of TNT. or megaton. Nuclear weapons are measured in kilotons. or thousands of tons of TNT.
If a 1 megaton weapon was delivered to the roof of the White House, crater The width is between 1 mile and half a mile. The force of the explosion would flatten Washington for miles. Then, like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there will be burns and radiation. Deaths (number) The number will be in the tens of thousands.
todaythe United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, North Korea, India, and Pakistan possess deliverable nuclear weapons. Israel likely to have nuclear weapons. Iran is close.
During the Cold War era, when the United States and the former Soviet Union were nuclear powers, the concept of deterrence was established. The threat of nuclear annihilation prevented nuclear World War III. But today, the situation is much more complex, especially if the potential risk of third parties acquiring nuclear weapons cannot be eliminated.
Targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure poses extremely difficult problems and consequences. First, these facilities are vast. buried deep undergroundFordeauOn the slope of a mountain. Traditional dynamic attacks includepointed out byGen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, former commander of U.S. Central Command, is unlikely to succeed.
Even with the use of nuclear weapons, it may not be possible to completely wipe out all these complexes, and the outcome is impossible to predict. And an invasion is necessary to capture and destroy all facilities on land.
Second, if the attack fails, will Iran be forced to develop nuclear weapons? Also, if the reactor were to explode or release radioactive material, would the attack cause a Chernobyl-like nuclear disaster? These are not easy questions.
Hurricane responses, both good and bad, have involved extensive planning and preparation over a considerable period of time. But today, no analogy exists between the dangers of nuclear war and the use of nuclear weapons.
Yes, the United States, the former Soviet Union, and Russia had arms control and restrictions in placeagreement. but,largelyanti-ballistic missiles, intermediate nuclear forces, open skies, and strategic arms limitations have been abolished or abolished, and no new mechanisms have been introduced.
Chinarefuse to agree to nuclear disarmament negotiations. IsraelI don't approveIt has nuclear weapons. And India and Pakistan view their weapons as direct deterrents against each other.
Common sense would suggest that the next administration will try to develop some mechanism to deal with these nuclear issues, which pose a threat to life and society.
In this connection, the damage caused by Helen and Milton would be insignificant by comparison, especially when human life is considered along with the radiation risks. Plutonium hasHalf-life is 24,000 years.
Harlan Ullman He is a senior advisor to the Atlantic Council and the principal author of the “Shock and Awe” military doctrine. His 12th book, The Fifth Horseman and the New MAD: How Massive Attacks of Disruption Became the Pooming Existential Danger to a Divided Nation and the World at General, is available on Amazon.
