What will make us safe?

Safety is something we all crave. Of course, the prognosis for all of us is ultimately grim, but we want to put it off as long as possible. And if we pay attention to the news, we seem to be surrounded by danger, and the danger seems to be growing. Some people, including prominent politicians, are talking of military action against Iran over nukes. Just what we need for greater safety, another war in Asia?

In our own society, equal rights have been and continue to be a source of great turmoil. And in many places throughout the world we have been seeing new countries arise as national groups gain independence, such as the splitting up of Yugoslavia into separate, sovereign entities. Not a pretty process, but seemingly an historically inevitable one. Just as groups within society want recognition and equal rights, so too in the world community, sovereign states want recognition and equal rights.

Imagine our country as it has evolved in our understanding of rights and democracy, from the franchise awarded only to white men with real property, then to all white men, then non-whites and women. Ours has been a cacophonous journey. But we are the better for it, are we not? (Of course, life would be much better if I, alone were absolute dictator. Letting the "little people" participate makes things messy.) The historical truth is that democracy has increased not because someone in power has granted an excluded group their "rights" but because these "troublemakers" have fought for, demanded, and effectively seized their rights. Authoritarian powers have been forced to either capitulate or be destroyed.

I suspect the same is true in the community of nations. We have many thousands of nuclear weapons, more than enough to wipe out all of humanity. Why? Iran wants the bomb? Why? Will the Iranians getting the bomb make the world less safe? I believe so. So, should we do "whatever is necessary" to prevent their getting the bomb? I believe not. The days of imperial powers being able to control the "lesser breeds" are numbered. Unfortunately, egomaniacs with power don't give up easily. It's obvious that the way to diminish the nuclear threat is to get rid of the bombs. And if we aren't willing to seriously undertake, with the other "mad bombers" of the world, the steady dismantling of weapons systems with a clear eye on their eventual, total elimination, then other countries will try to get their own.

Israel has the bomb. So, the Muslim states in the region will do just about anything to get their own. And as with independence movements internationally and civil rights struggles within nations, it will be a losing, destructive, and very bloody battle to keep smaller countries under heel. Not a simple or short-term process, but it seems obvious that the only path to nuclear non-proliferation is nuclear disarmament. If you don't like the war in Iraq, you're really not going to be fond of the war in Iran.