Presentation explores rise, effect of nuclear weapons technology in U.S.

June 1, 2009 by Sai P Mohan 

Lecture series holds conference on nuclear technology

Stephen Younger speaks at Tuesday's conference on nuclear weapons' affects upon global unity. Photo by Steven Lawton

The “Peace in the Desert” lecture series took on a heavy topic Wednesday as lecturers addressed the role of world superpowers in reducing nuclear danger and the influence of rogue states on peace.

The William S. Boyd School of Law sponsored the talk, entitled “Superpowers and Rogue States: Reducing the Nuclear Danger,” in association with the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution and the Woodrow Wilson Center.

John Valery White, dean of the Boyd School of Law, introduced the audience to the two keynote speakers of the evening, Stephen Younger, president of National Security Technologies, LLC and Robert Litwak, director of international security studies at the Woodrow Wilson Center.

White addressed the audience on issues related to nuclear warfare and technologies.

“It is time for debating on [the] future of nuclear weapons,” he said, explaining the need for the U.S. to focus its attention on weapons of mass destruction.

Younger introduced the audience to the history of nuclear weapons and the birth of these weaponries in the U.S. in 1943.

“There was a moment not to use these materials in war,” he said, explaining that even after such processions, the weapons were used against Japan in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Younger explained that the Soviet Union and the United States raced to develop the atomic bomb and the Soviet Union succeeded in developing a 100-megaton hydrogen bomb.

Britain and China joined the race and developing nations such as India, Pakistan and North Korea followed.

“[Abdul Qadeer] Khan in Pakistan sold do-it-yourself kits for nuclear weapons program,” he said, emphasizing the growing danger of nuclear proliferation.

Younger discussed the four major stages that a nation can achieve in the field of nuclear power: abolitionist, minimalist, maximalist and moderate positions. He expressed his opinion of the United States taking moderate position in the future.

“Rather than reject elimination, we should evaluate the challenge and risks against nuclear weapons,” he said.

“[The] United States shouldn’t dictate the world, but [instead should] lead [the world] into a good nuclear future,” he said.

Litwak defined a rogue state as a territory or state sponsoring the terrorists for the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and he described how this idea affected American policies.

“After 9/11 there was a radical change in the United States’ strategy,” he said.

Litwak explained his belief that the Bush administration was viewing the world and developments in Iraq in a distorted manner due to the events of 9/11.

“Iran [has] now mastered the uranium enrichment technology,” Litwak said, discussing what he views as a quickly approaching global nuclear challenge by Middle Eastern nations and developing countries.

“The two options we have,” he said, “[are to] either bomb or [to] negotiate.”

For the sake of peace, he said, the latter would be a better choice.

The Boyd School of Law’sWweb site states that the “Peace in the Desert” lecture series invites experts to share their knowldge on specific conflicts.