peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) (11/26/83)
Doesn't a 40x (or whatever) overkill stockpile of nuclear weapons sound like
another of those DoD boondoggles (like the $400 hammer) one hears about from
time to time? Of course, this is a boondoggle which (a) costs a lot more,
(b) threatens the world a lot more, and (c) can be more easily disguised
with terms like "window of vulnerability".
I put it to the net that the MAIN reasons for the current massive levels
of nuclear weapons is (a) the profit motive on the US side and (b) the
empire-building instincts of the military on both sides. The civilian
governments on both sides have been duped by their military-industrial
complexes through use of strident nationalism and appeals to paranoia,
which is self-perpetuating (e.g. the m-i complex believes it itself).
(a) could be removed by making the production of nuclear weapons solely a
low-profit enterprise. I don't know how to remove (b)-- nuclear weapons
are inherently powerful and a bureaucracy charged with maintaining them
will necessarily be given a good deal of power-- which gives it a good
deal of power to perpetuate itself (the main raison-d'etre of a bureau-
cracy).
Flames on this welcome, to me or to the net.
peter rowley, University of Toronto Department of C.S., Ontario Canada M5S 1A4
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