| Weapons of mass destruction are twentieth-century | | | | roadmap towards attaining full nuclear disarmament. |
| inventions. There is nothing new, of course, about | | | | More than 27,000 nuclear weapons are still |
| mass destruction. From ancient times a military | | | | maintained.4 Ninety five percent of these weapons |
| campaign often meant the massacre of tens of | | | | are in the US and Russia, and more than 16,000 are |
| thousands of soldiers and civilians. Military researchers | | | | operationally deployed. A report by the Carnegie |
| produced weapons that could deliver poison gas, | | | | Endowment for International Peace explains: "The |
| germs, and nuclear explosions with artillery, aerial | | | | figure of 6000 accountable warheads uses specific |
| bombs, and later missiles paving the way to what we | | | | accounting rules agreed to under the START treaty. |
| now have as weapons of mass destruction. | | | | Both nations will retain thousands of additional tactical |
| Then emerged the US and the USSR, by virtue of | | | | and reserve weapons. According to the bulletin of |
| their ability to develop the above weapons | | | | the Atomic Scientist, many if not most of the US |
| catapulted them to superpower status. Their rivalry | | | | warheads removed from the active stockpile will be |
| resulted in the era known as the "Cold War," a period | | | | placed in storage rather than dismantled. |
| between the end of World War II and 1990, in which | | | | Unquestionably, the two nuclear superpowers still hold |
| arms and security continued to play a defining role. | | | | ample nuclear weaponry in their arsenals to destroy |
| During the Cold War, suspicion and insecurity run | | | | the entire world population several times over! |
| rampant. The Cold War found expressions in the | | | | Maintaining such a large number of dangerous |
| continued development in military arms and nuclear | | | | weapons invites yet another threat the accidental |
| capability. Global arsenals peaked during the Cold War | | | | launching of nuclear missiles. |
| decades, when both the NATO nations and the | | | | Accusations and counter accusations have |
| Warsaw Pact perfected and produced tens of | | | | characterized the disarmament scene. The Bush |
| thousands of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. | | | | administration has abstained from or rejected several |
| Humanity brazens out serious and immediate threats | | | | major treaties, including the Anti Ballistic Missile |
| from the global existence of thousands of nuclear | | | | Treaty, the START II and III treaties, the |
| weapons and chemical weapons. We in addition | | | | Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and the draft |
| countenance the possibility that some nation or group | | | | compliance protocol to the Biological Weapons |
| still has or soon could have biological weapons. A wide | | | | Convention. This analysis raises fundamental |
| assortment of delivery mechanisms for these | | | | questions-There is a difference between knowing |
| weapons exists, including ballistic missiles, cruise | | | | exactly what you want done and how it should be |
| missiles, aircraft, artillery, ships, trucks, and envelopes. | | | | done and allowing someone to make their own |
| There is also now a growing recognition of the added | | | | decisions and do it their way. |
| danger that terrorist organizations could kill thousands, | | | | There is no better time to implement the long |
| not just with traditional mass destruction. | | | | envisaged nuclear weapon free zones across the |
| In January 1992, for example, the member states of | | | | world than now. South Africa under the leadership of |
| the U.N. Security Council declared that the spread of | | | | ex President Mandela took the bold step of |
| weapons of mass destruction constituted a "threat | | | | renouncing his country's stockpiles of weapons of |
| to international peace and security." | | | | mass destruction. Preceding the above was a similar |
| There are two related proliferation risks today: that | | | | step by some former Soviet States in destroying |
| more nations will acquire these weapons and that sub | | | | nuclear weapons of the former USSR in their |
| national or terrorist groups might acquire or use them. | | | | territorial areas. Both initiatives deserve applause. |
| Much concentration was given to the first risk and | | | | The only long term solution to the Middle East crisis |
| until recently when there arose the glaring threats | | | | as recommended by the WMDC is the creation of |
| from suspected programs of a few "rogue states". | | | | Nuclear-free states in that region. Iran's proliferation |
| Post 9/11 events shifted attention to the threat of | | | | cannot be treated in isolation with Israel's continues |
| terrorists' use of weapons of mass destruction, but | | | | stockpiling of armament. In the case of Iran, analysts |
| the tension in South Asia, serves to illustrate that the | | | | believe her nuclear ambitions are motivated by |
| other side of the coin is the real potential for | | | | well-known suspicion of insecurity from particularly |
| catastrophe. | | | | Israel's clandestine nuclear program and to some |
| In line with this, Dr. Hans Blix former chief of the | | | | extend Iraq as well. This opinion is shared by most |
| International Atomic Energy Agency chaired a | | | | states in that region. It is against this background |
| commission of experts known as the Weapons of | | | | that Libya's official news agency reportedly |
| Mass Destruction Commission to look into the latent | | | | re-echoed Col. Qathafi's call on the need for the Arab |
| threats posed by deadly weapons of mass | | | | world to acquire nuclear weapons to counter Israel's |
| destruction to the civilization of our day.This | | | | nuclear domination in the Middle East. This is the only |
| commission unlike previous ones, is spear heading the | | | | panacea to the polarization in that region. Similarly, if |
| global monitoring campaign against nuclear, biological | | | | reform elements continue to make progress in Iran |
| and chemical weapon proliferation through its | | | | and if the international community led by the U.S will |
| pragmatic recommendations that will serve as the | | | | pursue active diplomacy; an advance in resolving the |
| roadmap in ridding our world off dangerous weapons, | | | | proliferation deadlock is not farfetched. In many |
| and as such deserves unqualified support by the | | | | ways, the South Asian programs represent the most |
| world community. | | | | difficult challenge, both for the risks of regional war |
| The WMDC in its report have made numerous | | | | they present and their ripple effect on other Asian |
| recommendations but among them is the primary | | | | states. |
| emphasis on the need for all states that possess | | | | The experience of the past is presenting a clarion call |
| nuclear weapons to commence planning for security | | | | on states engaged in the production of fissile for |
| without nuclear weapons. Fundamental to this effort | | | | weapons to desist from this act. This has evolved |
| should be the carry-over of the same policies by the | | | | into a new danger of the possible acquisition of these |
| UN, and other international organizations as well as | | | | fissile materials by fanatic non-state actors to carry |
| individual states to pursue right now- efforts to | | | | out attacks on humanity. With sufficient quantity of |
| resolve various international conflicts; encourage | | | | fissile uranium or plutonium, terror organizations having |
| democratization and reduce economic inequalities. | | | | modern grade uranium would have a good chance of |
| In an era when there is increasing interest in unilateral | | | | setting off an explosion simply by dropping one-half |
| approaches to security provisions, it is imperative to | | | | of it onto the other half. According to Peace |
| spot out that monetary and alliance factors have not, | | | | Magazine "three kilograms would be sufficient." This is |
| in themselves, been adequate barriers to proliferation. | | | | almost the same amount of weapons usable nuclear |
| No individual country's security interest is unilaterally | | | | material as was confiscated from smugglers in 1994 |
| guaranteed on the mere possession of weapons of | | | | in the Czech Republic. Nuclear waste can become |
| mass destruction in its arsenal. | | | | another form of nuclear armament. The lethal |
| Else, there would not be global insecurity and its | | | | combination of radioactive waste and conventional |
| attendant clarion call by both nuclear states and | | | | explosives is a major source of concern. Since 1 |
| non-nuclear states alike for non-proliferation. The | | | | January 1993, there has been 162 confirmed incidents |
| open secret is that even the nuclear haves still feel | | | | involving illicit trafficking and other related |
| insecure of the ugly existence of these evils. | | | | unauthorized activities involving nuclear and other |
| Regrettably the nuclear-haves have failed to live up | | | | radioactive materials, of the 662 confirmed incidents, |
| to their commitment of global disarmament. | | | | 196 incidents, 196 incidents involved other nuclear |
| Consequently, we now have a second and third | | | | materials, mainly radioactive sources, 24 incidents |
| wave of proliferators much to the dislike of these | | | | involved both nuclear and other radioactive materials, |
| nuclear giants. George Bush was quoted as saying | | | | and 5 others involved other radioactive materials. |
| "The grave threat from nuclear, biological and | | | | Russia and the US should once again be called upon |
| chemical weapons has not gone away with the Cold | | | | to resolve to take their nuclear weapons off high |
| War. It has evolved into many separate threats, | | | | alert. US nuclear forces have been controlled by a |
| some of them harder to see and harder to answer."1 | | | | "launch on warning" strategy. US warheads stand |
| The world community need not be told about the | | | | ready to be launched while Russian warheads are in |
| need to return to the initial bargain, upon which the | | | | flight. No more than 15 minutes can elapse, under, the |
| Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was born; pursuing | | | | policy, from the time of first warning of Russian |
| policies of disarmament by the nuclear haves and | | | | attack and the launching of US missiles. |
| non-proliferation by the non- nuclear states parties to | | | | This hair trigger alert presents the danger of an |
| the NPT in fulfillment of commitments under article VI | | | | accidental missile launch caused by a false warning. |
| of the NPT {GC(42)/ RES/19, adopted 25/09/98}2. | | | | The U.S. News and World Report has it that "In more |
| The US should play the leading role by abandoning | | | | than one instance real launch orders have been |
| every form of "double standard" by ushering in a | | | | transmitted by mistake during American nuclear |
| favorable rule based international order. The presence | | | | training exercises." Similarly, a Norwegian research |
| of nuclear weapons even by organized states dares | | | | rocket triggered a false alarm in 1995, resulting in |
| catastrophe as shown by the recent revelations of a | | | | President Yeltsin embarking on processes of |
| complex nuclear black market syndicate networked in | | | | activating the launch codes of nuclear missiles |
| virtually all the five continents. At the centre of this | | | | warnings. |
| controversy is A.K. Khan a Pakistani nuclear scientist. | | | | Most of Russia's early warning satellites have stopped |
| We must not be reminded that Pakistan belongs to | | | | functioning or wandered out of their assigned orbits. |
| the second group of proliferators. These same NSG | | | | Therefore as a retired US vice admiral stated several |
| are the possible source of leakages of nuclear | | | | years ago, "the chance of a preemptive strike or a |
| information badly needed by fanatic non-state actors. | | | | missile launch because of misunderstanding, misplaced |
| America and her allies should be reminded that their | | | | authority or accident, is as great today as any time in |
| war on terrorism will not yield any positive impact if | | | | the past." |
| they fail to address the problem posed by the supply | | | | The nuclear states in justifying their possession of |
| side of the equation. Contrary to popular expectation, | | | | such arms in the supreme interest of their individual |
| some analyst predicted that the demise of the USSR | | | | national sovereignties, has triggered grumblings within |
| would induce the US to roll back her nuclear | | | | some quarters. A case in point is the American |
| ammunition and focus on consolidating the norm | | | | inclination to act simply in terms of doing their own |
| against nuclear use. | | | | thing, no matter what others think, is not steady |
| As a prelude to the envisaged nuclear free world, the | | | | with the responsibilities of a sole superpower, not to |
| International Atomic Energy Agency should be the | | | | mention the UN Charter. |
| sole and legal custodian of the right to carry out | | | | To assert that what people think, believe, and act |
| independent and competent inspection and | | | | upon is of no consequence is a position, which, for |
| verification of accusations and counter accusations of | | | | any potential proliferators is untenable. The current |
| possession of nuclear armament. Findings of such | | | | nuclear charged global atmosphere coupled with the |
| inspections should be tabled before the UN Security | | | | daily political and diplomatic wrangling between |
| Council, it is at this level that the UN's credibility of | | | | members of the nuclear club is a good recipe for a |
| been a neutral arbiter can be put to test; bearing in | | | | nuclear hostility. To discourage further proliferation |
| mind that its success largely hinges on the | | | | the security concerns of non-nuclear states needs to |
| sustainability of the on going sweeping reforms in the | | | | be guaranteed by the existing nuclear states. |
| UN. | | | | Non-nuclear states will not be motivated to develop |
| The absence of a standing secretariat to oversee | | | | such armament if they are assured of not being |
| the implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty | | | | present or future targets of nuclear weapons. |
| accounts for the less than desirable results achieved | | | | Diplomacy should be seen as credible alternatives to |
| decades after the coming into force of this treaty. | | | | military action in the resolution of global crisis. |
| Therefore, the recommendation calling for the | | | | Alliance security arrangements, such as the United |
| creation of a permanent secretariat for the NPT | | | | States' promise to extend a "nuclear umbrella" over |
| deserves financial, legal and technical support from | | | | Europe and Japan, unquestionably made it easier for |
| the government of Ghana and her friends in the UN. | | | | a number of industrial nations to abandon their |
| Its advantages includes among other things, the | | | | nuclear weapon programs. In the case of North |
| precise prescription and role definition of both the UN | | | | Korea, there can never be any sustainable progress |
| and the IAEA in matters of proliferation of weapons | | | | in impressing on her to abandon her nuclear ambitions |
| of mass destruction. | | | | if she incessantly feels threatened by international |
| Some countries have deliberately abstained from | | | | political and diplomatic isolation. |
| being Parties to the NPT and CTBT for reasons best | | | | Until all countries join and implement the NPT, the |
| known to them. The government of Ghana should | | | | dream of a peaceful world will remain but a fleeting |
| articulate the promotion of multilateralism as providing | | | | illusion always to be pursued but never achieved. Our |
| the international framework for shaping the | | | | responsibility is to banish from this generation the |
| relationship between disarmament, development and | | | | injustices that have disfigured the outlook of the |
| security, based on interdependence among nations | | | | past decades. We owe an obligation to humanity and |
| and mutuality. | | | | posterity to ensure continuity and preservation of |
| Of particulate concern is the inability of the United | | | | every form of life, the environment, and respect for |
| States and the Soviet Union to come to a workable | | | | human dignity. |