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Nuclear weapons are proliferating in many places besides North Korea: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/22/1158529106/nuclear-treaty-new-start-putin https://www.npr.

by bloppe 4y ago

Nuclear weapons are proliferating in many places besides North Korea: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/22/1158529106/nuclear-treaty-new-start-putin https://www.npr.org/2023/02/22/1158529106/nuclear-treaty-new... https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/iran-make-material-nuclear-device-12-days-us/story?id=97536371 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/iran-make-material-nuclear-d... https://news.usni.org/2023/01/24/report-to-congress-on-chinese-nuclear-and-missile-proliferation https://news.usni.org/2023/01/24/report-to-congress-on-chine... Chemical weapons are very effective in modern warfare: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_chemical_weapons_in_the_Syrian_civil_war https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_chemical_weapons_in_t... Though, it's more commonly used by non-state actors: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_terrorism https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_terrorism

gostsamo 4y ago
Iran is the exception that confirms the rule. They were so heavily sanctioned that it became feasible for them to say "screw it, we will do nukes anyway". I won't say that nuclear proliferation is completely stopped, but the system works for the most part. China and Russia are old nuclear powers and them having nukes is expected. Better counter examples are India and Pakistan, but I don't know the history of their nuclear programs well enough to comment with confidence. The chemical weapons in Syria were old stockpiles and I'd argue that the use there was not an increase of their use, but an opportunity attack. I don't think that there are many groups who currently have any kind of chemical program and can use it systematically.
- bloppe 4y ago
  I hope your comment ages better than I think it will.
jcranmer 4y ago
> Chemical weapons are very effective in modern warfare: Not really: https://acoup.blog/2020/03/20/collections-why-dont-we-use-chemical-weapons-anymore/ https://acoup.blog/2020/03/20/collections-why-dont-we-use-ch... -- all of their uses are in militaries that are not capable of engaging in modern warfare and instead have to resort to WW1-era tactics.

by bloppe 4y ago

gostsamo 4y ago

Iran is the exception that confirms the rule. They were so heavily sanctioned that it became feasible for them to say "screw it, we will do nukes anyway". I won't say that nuclear proliferation is completely stopped, but the system works for the most part. China and Russia are old nuclear powers and them having nukes is expected. Better counter examples are India and Pakistan, but I don't know the history of their nuclear programs well enough to comment with confidence. The chemical weapons in Syria were old stockpiles and I'd argue that the use there was not an increase of their use, but an opportunity attack. I don't think that there are many groups who currently have any kind of chemical program and can use it systematically.

bloppe 4y ago
I hope your comment ages better than I think it will.

jcranmer 4y ago

> Chemical weapons are very effective in modern warfare: Not really: https://acoup.blog/2020/03/20/collections-why-dont-we-use-chemical-weapons-anymore/ https://acoup.blog/2020/03/20/collections-why-dont-we-use-ch... -- all of their uses are in militaries that are not capable of engaging in modern warfare and instead have to resort to WW1-era tactics.