What if it doesn't work?
Posted: 11th January 2022
Posted on January 9, 2022 by beyondnuclearinternational
“Not absolutely foolproof” isn’t good enough when it comes to nuclear deterrence
By Linda Pentz Gunter
“Long live deterrence to dissuade nuclear attacks” blasted the headline on Gwynne Dyer’s December 6, 2021 column in The Hill Times. And then came this subheader:
“It’s not absolutely foolproof, but it has protected us all from nuclear war for 75 years.”
There is just one obvious problem with this statement. In order for deterrence to work, it has to be absolutely 100 percent foolproof. The consequence of it being less than that is beyond catastrophic. It could amount to the end of life on earth as we know it. That’s one hell of a gamble. And it’s a gamble that is not morally defensible on any level. It’s one that should never be taken.
https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/2022/01/09/what-if-it-doesnt-work/