During the Cold War between the United States and Russia, the theory of mutually assured destruction, MAD, served as a deterrent to war. Are we returning to those days? A Return To MAD Nuclear Deterrence? A nuclear world war has always been referred to as the doomsday of mankind. It is a war of revenge with no discernable victory scenario. The reason victory by one side or another is highly unlikely has to do with the widespread environmental devastation that would result from a large number of nukes being detonated. This includes the possibility of a nuclear winter where the sun is blocked out and all life dies. The idea of such a nuclear war arose during the cold war between the United States and former Soviet Union. It came about when people started analyzing what would happen if the countries undertook a full-blown war. Both countries were armed to the gills with nuclear weapons. It didnt take scientist long to conclude that the detonation of most of these weapons would radically impact the planet. After doing the analysis, scientist presented the idea of a nuclear winter to a horrified world. Nuclear winter refers to how the world would appear after a significant nuclear war. Scientists concluded that nuclear explosions, particularly over cities, would throw up so much soot, smoke and dust that our atmosphere would change radically. Sunlight would be effectively blocked. Temperatures would drop as much as 30 degrees and the food chain would fail as critical links died off. Simply put, it would be hell on Earth. Although the United States and Soviet Union came close to war, particularly during the Cuban Missile Crisis, they never took the step. Both countries determined a nuclear war would result in mutually assured destruction. In a twisted bit of humor, this policy became known as MAD. Currently, the specter of a nuclear war is back on the radar screen. Israel is known to have nuclear weapons. Iran is in the process of developing them, if it doesnt already have them. Iran has a stated goal of wiping out Israel. One can imagine that Israel is not going to sit by and let that happen. The United States is an ally of Israel. Russia is an ally of Iran. If these two bitter enemies go to war, the United States and Russia will have to decide how far they are willing to go to back their allies. World Wars have been started over such scenarios. Alas, we may have to return to the infantile MAD theory to keep from blowing ourselves to smithereens. |
