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Disarmament DiplomacyIssue No. 40, September - October 1999Stockholm Symposium on Nuclear ThreatsIn Stockholm on October 1-2, a Nobel Symposium on "A Future Arms Control Agenda" heard a number of grave warnings about the likelihood of nuclear conflict. According to former US Defense Secretary William Perry, the prospect of a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan could not be discounted: "The losing side might be tempted to use nuclear weapons in a desperate attempt to save the day". Perry added: "Last year's India test ruptured the frail barrier of the [non-proliferation regime]... Not surprisingly, Pakistan quickly followed suit, and my expectation is that we will see Iran, Iraq, and possibly Syria, go nuclear as well". Professor Francesco Calogero, from the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, was dejected enough to state: "I think that there is an even chance that a nuclear explosion in a city will occur in the next decade... This nuclear explosion will be due to a terrorist act, or perhaps be made by...some crazy people". Report: Experts warn of new nuclear threats, Associated Press, October 2. © 1999 The Acronym Institute. |