President Obama: Ban the Bomb

President wants to ban all nuclear weapons.

He also wants Turkey in the European Union.

President Obama may get his way with Turkey, but I'll be astonished if his 'ban the bomb' desire gets anywhere.

Ban Technology, Military or Otherwise? Been There, Tried That

About a thousand years ago, give or take a few centuries, the Church tried to ban cutting-edge military technology, like the crossbow.¹ The Second Lateran Council wasn't particularly successful in 1139. My guess is that the Obama administration will be as effective at putting a technological genie back in the bottle, here at the dawn of the Information Age.

President Barack Obama means well, I think. And, he's a fine orator. Addressing Prague and the world, he said:

"...To achieve a global ban on nuclear testing, my administration will immediately and aggressively pursue U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. After more than five decades of talks, it is time for the testing of nuclear weapons to finally be banned...." (The Washington Post)

He may even succeed in creating a legal framework which will prevent America and a few other countries from producing and maintaining nuclear weapons. After five decades of talk about the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, that would be a memorable accomplishment.

However, I can't help but think that it's possible - no matter how unlikely - that the leadership of countries like North Korea, or even a comparative paragon of peace and goodwill like Pakistan, would follow suit.

Related posts:

• "North Korea and Missile Concerns: Nations are Not All Identical"
  (April 5, 2009)
• "A Very 'Lucky' Man - One Way or the Other"
  (March 24, 2009)
• "Don't Like American Politics? It Could Be Worse"
  (March 2, 2009)
• "Unintended Consequences? The West May be Getting Over Hiroshima"
  (January 25, 2008)

In the news:

• "Obama promises leadership to rid world of nuclear arms"
  The Irish Times (April 5, 2009)
• "Obama in Turkey after 'nuclear-free world' speech"
  ABC News (April 5, 2009)
• "Text of President Obama in Prague"
  The Washington Post (April 5, 2009)

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¹ No joke: the crossbow takes a while to reload, but the amount of energy in a crossbow bolt makes up for the slow rate of fire. The Church tried to ban the crossbow, as part of a program to dampen feudal Europe's "endemic warfare" ("The European Middle Ages, I: Fragmentation, Centralization, and the Church (Notes)," History 105, California State University, Fresno (Microsoft Word format)) ("INTERNATIONAL LAW STUDIES Volume 82 / The Law of War in the 21st Century: Weaponry and the Use of Force," Anthony M. Helm Editor, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island (pdf)).

North Korea and Missile Concerns: Nations are Not All Identical

North Korea's launched another missile. It worked, but not perfectly. The North Korean rocket did successfully separate and start its second stage ("staging," it's called). That's doing pretty well, even if the vehicle didn't complete its flight as planned. (Space Daily)

A discussion thread today included some rather familiar attitudes:

• "eh, everyone can shout and posture but at the end of the day they are still a sovereign nation and can do what they want. ..."
• "Other countries launch missles [!] why not NK also?..."
• "I bet Japan isn't happy right now. They're probably still edgy about missiles since the nuclear bombs our terrorizing government dropped in World War II."
• "The missile's third stage failed and the satellite fell into the ocean. They're still a long way from being a threat. That said, who are we to dictate who can and who can't launch missiles? China is a much greater threat yet they're our number one trading partner."
  (BlogCatalog Discussion thread)

There are some good points there: North Korea is a sovereign nation. Just like America, Guinea-Bissau, India, and Burkina Faso.

I think that one reason the United Nations Security Council is meeting, and why Japan (among other nations) is concerned, is that not all nations are exactly alike.

Related post:

• "North Korea Launches Missile; U.N. Security Council to Meet: Here We Go Again"
  (April 5, 2009)
  • Includes list of other related posts

News and views:

• "Missile defence work needed, North Korea must change"
  Reuters (April 5, 3009)
• "Obama's plan: Get rid of all nukes "
  nzherald.com.nz (April 5, 2009)
• "U.N. council rushes to respond to North Korea launch"
  Reuters (April 5, 3009)
• "Rocket programme to cost NKorea 500 mln dlrs: analyst"
  Space Daily (April 5, 2009)
• "NKorea rocket launch partial success: US expert"
  Space Daily (April 5, 2009)
• "US wants jailed journalists in NKorea [!] freed soon"
  The Associated Press (April 5, 2009)
• "North Korea: pathetic, but still dangerous"
  telegraph.co.uk (April 5, 2009)