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U.S. foreign aid freeze derails efforts to stem proliferation risks

18 points by lmc 2y ago

JumpCrisscross 2y ago
Non-proliferation has been dead for at least a decade. (Great article I can’t find right now in Le Monde Diplo.) The screaming nail the coffin was our reaction to Ukraine, where Russia’s nukes dominated the conversation, versus Iran, where their non-existent nukes did not. Ukraine was proven stupid trading its nukes for empty promises. The world saw and learned.
- hikingsimulator 2y ago
  This goes far beyond "nuclear proliferation." It's about medical, pathogen research. The Wuhan lab for coronavirus was also backed by the US to study such viruses. Proliferation is also about vaccination and HIV prevention, etc. USAID et al. are among the most important programs in development and prevention worldwide. This is a tragedy chosen by a majority of Americans because what goes around comes around. COVID showed again that pandemics don't stop at borders.
  - ReptileMan 2y ago
    Especially when they escape from laboratory doing gain of function funded with their own money.
    - sharpshadow 2y ago
      The deeper rumours say it was spread intentionally and blamed on China.
- zmgsabst 2y ago
  Russia is the most prolific nuclear power. It remains to be seen what will happen with lesser ones. The entire world combined has fewer than a third of either the Russian or American arsenals (by number of weapons). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_we...
sharpshadow 2y ago
Title plays with the word aid from the now dismantled United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which is a channel to stem projects in favor to the US worldwide. Maybe Trump didn't understand the value of it or is principally against such methods. From the track record of U.S. AID the world is a better place without it.
- zcar 2y ago
  Al least they are admitting foreign aids is about having US advantage over others, and not helping others with "security". I think Trump could not tell the difference. There must be other plans in the making to replace "foreign aids”.
aaron695 2y ago
[dead]
throwfgtpwd234 2y ago
Nuclear terrorism hasn't been a trope in mass media for about 10 years, and 20 years since Graham Allison's book Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe. This book convinced Warren Buffett that it was a serious problem. And, that's what's so stupid about ending aid unilaterally without understanding the totality of implications of doing so. When a mushroom cloud sprouts over Los Angeles, it won't be the plot device of 24 anymore and nothing will be able to change what coulda, shoulda, or woulda been possible after-the-fact.
tharmas 2y ago
For good or ill USAID was a CIA front.

18 points by lmc 2y ago

Non-proliferation has been dead for at least a decade. (Great article I can’t find right now in Le Monde Diplo.) The screaming nail the coffin was our reaction to Ukraine, where Russia’s nukes dominated the conversation, versus Iran, where their non-existent nukes did not. Ukraine was proven stupid trading its nukes for empty promises. The world saw and learned.

hikingsimulator 2y ago
This goes far beyond "nuclear proliferation." It's about medical, pathogen research. The Wuhan lab for coronavirus was also backed by the US to study such viruses. Proliferation is also about vaccination and HIV prevention, etc. USAID et al. are among the most important programs in development and prevention worldwide. This is a tragedy chosen by a majority of Americans because what goes around comes around. COVID showed again that pandemics don't stop at borders.
- ReptileMan 2y ago
  Especially when they escape from laboratory doing gain of function funded with their own money.
  - sharpshadow 2y ago
    The deeper rumours say it was spread intentionally and blamed on China.
zmgsabst 2y ago
Russia is the most prolific nuclear power. It remains to be seen what will happen with lesser ones. The entire world combined has fewer than a third of either the Russian or American arsenals (by number of weapons). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_weapons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_we...

sharpshadow 2y ago

Title plays with the word aid from the now dismantled United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which is a channel to stem projects in favor to the US worldwide. Maybe Trump didn't understand the value of it or is principally against such methods. From the track record of U.S. AID the world is a better place without it.

zcar 2y ago
Al least they are admitting foreign aids is about having US advantage over others, and not helping others with "security". I think Trump could not tell the difference. There must be other plans in the making to replace "foreign aids”.

aaron695 2y ago

[dead]

throwfgtpwd234 2y ago

Nuclear terrorism hasn't been a trope in mass media for about 10 years, and 20 years since Graham Allison's book Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe. This book convinced Warren Buffett that it was a serious problem. And, that's what's so stupid about ending aid unilaterally without understanding the totality of implications of doing so. When a mushroom cloud sprouts over Los Angeles, it won't be the plot device of 24 anymore and nothing will be able to change what coulda, shoulda, or woulda been possible after-the-fact.

tharmas 2y ago

For good or ill USAID was a CIA front.