Nuclear Arms Race Since 1945 - part 2

1. Summarize the basic argument for and the basic argument against nuclear weapons.     
The basic argument for nuclear weapons is that deference keeps the world safer. Because of nuclear weapons countries are less willing to risk attacking another country for fear of being wiped out of existence. The basic argument against nuclear weapons is that humans are imperfect and so deference is not a fool-proof system; The system of deference could be shattered through accidents, false alarms, unauthorized use, and the danger of political instability. 
      

2. What is the difference between a strategic and a tactical nuclear weapon?       
Strategic nuclear weapons have longer ranges, and tactical nuclear weapons have shorter ranges. Also, tactical weapons tend to be smaller. 
        

3. What is nuclear proliferation?       
Nuclear proliferation is the the spread of nuclear weapons.
       

4. What role has the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty played in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons?           
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty played a part in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons by binding nearly every country to the terms that, no country may give a nuclear weapon to a country that doesn't already have nuclear weapons, and the non-nuclear countries are not allowed to produce nuclear weapons. 


5. Explain Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal. (See her quote on page 16 of your reading.)       
Secretary of State Rice's high level of concern about the Russian nuclear arsenal was due to the fact that Russia's recent economic problems had resulted in a loosened grip on Moscow's nuclear weapons program. And so, The Secretary of State was highly concerned that someone could steal raw materials from the Russian nuclear arsenal and make a bomb and, this bomb could have the potential of killing thousands of people.
    

6. How as the threat of terrorism changed thinking about nuclear weapons?          
The threat of terrorism changed the thinking about nuclear weapons in that if a terrorist group obtains a nuclear bomb, deference will no longer be an option. And so, protecting nuclear weapons has become a higher international concern.