“Second, China does have 400 nukes, but only 20 ICBMs.”
How can we be sure of this? China is already taking steps to modernize its military (preparing to invade Taiwan, which is really more trouble than its worth) and ten years from now (when this so-called missile defense is ready) that number can increase exponentially, especially with Russia selling many of its weapons and technology to China. Also, most of the test (if not all) so far have only been one missile, and the success rate isn’t exactly 100%. How can we be sure we can even shoot down 20? What’s not to say China won’t accelerate their missile program once they know what they have to deal against?
“Why have we never used Nukes in the past? It wasn’t for fear of killing millions. It was for fear of millions of us being killed. If that fear is eliminated, our Goverment will throw them at Small Countries like darts on a dartboard.”
Well that is a bit of exaggeration. I would hope that the American people and its elected rulers would have enough sense not to. Also, how many of the these small countries have the technology and resources to develop a effective ICBM program? Not very many. Even with a Missile Defense System, there is still the serious threat that an NBCE weapon (most of them that can be manufactured and hidden quite easily) can be detonated inside of the United States.
“Horten, even though the USSR does not exist anymore,
russia is its successor state, and has taken the “responsibilies” of the former USSR, like the debts and treaties.
That’s the way international law works. Just imagine russia would have said they would not take the USSRs responsibilities (like the USSR did with the russia of the czar): you will find yourself in deep political and economical isolation in less than a second.”
Even if this is true, there’s still the fact that under the provisions of the treaty the US or USSR could pull out at any time as long as they gave an advance warning. “It shall give notice of its decision to the other Party six months prior to withdrawal from the Treaty. Such notice shall include a statement of the extraordinary events the notifying Party regards as having jeopardized its supreme interests.” - Article XV. I believe the dissolving of the Soviet Union, rogue nations developing their own nuclear weapons system, and Sept. 11th would qualify as extraordinary events.
And lets not forget that Russia supports the movement toward a Missile Program. “The Russians’ future is with us, and they know it. In addition to agreeing to cut their nuclear arsenal, they just signed up to become a junior member of NATO. Even with Putin-a former KGB officer-at the helm, they view us as strategic partners in the real war of the 21st century: the war on terrorism. The ABM Treaty has no place in such a world. And virtually all realize that the real threat for both countries comes from rogue regimes such as North Korea, Iran and Iraq.”
