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The world almost came to an end during the cold war during the cuban missile crisis. In fact, (although it was not publicized here) American destroyers were already attacking Russian submarines. And the world came this close to anhilation: In one specific nuclear submarine they had then assumed that the war had begun. However, in Russian nuclear submarines they have the doctrine that three commanders must all concur in order to launch a nuclear missile.
In this case, only two concurred. One Russian commander did not agree with launching, and so they did not. It came that close.
This is another thing that is not very well known. The cuban missile crisis ocurred for similar reasons as our current situation: JFK set an ultimatum stating that Russians may not store nuclear weapons in Cuba. This was an effort at anti-terrorism. In fact, the US joint chief of staff had been planning to create a terrorism crisis in the states in order to validate invating Cuba under the guise of anti-terrorism.
To answer the original question, there is no purpose to nuclear weapons. However, it is a delicate balance whereby all nations must have them or all nations must not have them. No one nation can be an exception. The balance that Jacker speaks about is true, however it is a very edgy balance.
More importantly, you have to dissasociate yourself from being a "long term" person in your attempt to view the leaders of most countries. Most leaders do not get a decade to lead a country... they get four years. In that four years, they must make their life's work. The interest of most leaders is therefore geared towards profits in the short term.
It is important to absorb that mentality. George Bush does not worry about terrorist attacks in the united states because he will be rich through his connections after he is out of office. That is his goal. He does not worry or think about the end of the world because of his being blinded by the greed of short term benefits.
This seems like a very difficult concept to believe, but history is marked with many leaders who have done the same thing. Self-preservation in the long term is not a concept many people can fully absorb. People drink and do drugs and participate in a host of unintelligent activities that are all based on one thing: short term prosperity with literally no view of long term benefits or hazards.
This provides us with a clear vision of how dangerous it is to live in a time like this. There is no escaping it as all citizens are at risk.
"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."
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