Defense Secretary Ash Carter accused Russia of endangering
world order due to their invasion of the Ukraine and their loose talk of
nuclear weapons. Currently, the U.S Defense Establishment is looking for new
ways to stop Russian aggression and protect U.S allies.
Cater stated that "most disturbing, Moscow's nuclear
saber-rattling raises questions about Russian leaders' commitment to strategic
stability, their respect for norms against the use of nuclear weapons, and
whether they respect the profound caution nuclear-age leaders showed with
regard to the brandishing of nuclear weapons". This is possibly the strongest statement he
has released about Russia thus far. However he then continues with the
following statement: “[The United States does not] seek a cold, let alone a hot,
war with Russia. [The United States does not] seek to make Russia an enemy. But
make no mistake; the United States will defend [its’] interests, [it’s] allies,
the principled international order, and the positive future it affords us
all."
People speculate that Carter has made these statements is
because over the past few decades, the U.S has dominated great-power relations.
However with Russia (as well as China) reasserting itself through talk of
nuclear weapons and the incursion of the Ukraine, the U.S may be feeling a bit
threatened.
Carter then blatantly blamed Russia for stirring up trouble
in the Middle East and Europe. He states that Russia has been violating sovereignty
in the Ukraine and Georgia, as well as trying to intimidate the Baltic States.
He also states that Russia has been “throwing gasoline on an already dangerous
fire”. By that he means that Russia is only helping to prolong a civil war that
“fuels the very extremism Russia claims to oppose”. Carter stated that Putin really hasn’t completely
thought through his actions in Syria and that his approach is “way off track”.
He then says that Russia is at the top of the United States’
list of security threats. Russia has reopened 10 Arctic military bases that
were closed in 1991 and has been flying more low range air patrols off U.S
shores. Due to these actions, Carter says that the United States is modernizing
its entire nuclear arsenal.
Carter finally states that China is also on the U.S radar due
to its growing influence and growing military and that they have sent our best
naval, military weapons, ships, and equipment to that region.
Sources:http://news.yahoo.com/carter-says-russia-china-potentially-threaten-global-order-214925712--politics.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Carter
Questions:
Due to the amount of talk about nuclear weapons, do you think that another nuclear war will happen? If so when? At what point will it be taken to this level? Who do you think will ally with each other?
Carter states that the U.S has started modernizing it's nuclear arsenal, do you think that this is a lie, by which I mean do you think the U.S has just started or has it continually been modernizing nuclear weapons under wrap? Why or why not?
If you had to access the threat level to the United States at this point what would you say its at (0 no threat-10 huge threat)? Why or why not?
3 comments:
Russia under Putin is experiencing the desire to recapture the glory of the Soviet Union, especially given the power vacuum in the Middle East where American foreign policy has recently waned under Obama because of the weariness of multiple wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as her desire to again fold what Russian considers part of "Mother Russia" such as the Ukraine and Georgia. However, given this saber rattling by Russia, I don't believe we are close to a Nuclear War. Countries such as Russia and China are certainly challenging the US as the dominant political power in the world. China is right up there with the growth in its economy. These countries are bound to compete, jockeying and strengthening their positions in the world. Russia and the US are essentially at a "proxy" war in Syria and China is reasserting its claim of the International waters in South China Sea where the US has started to send its Navy Fleet closer, but in order to be close to a Nuclear War, severe incursions to each other's national security must be presented. We're not there, maybe not yet. The Syrian civil war results in Syrian disaster unfortunately. Much more then American or Russian interests in the Middle East. I also believe that over the next few decades, as Americans reduce its dependency to oil, there will be less strategic needs for the Middle East oil. The Chinese will need them more perhaps. The results of Chinese dominance over the South Chinese Sea regions are much more threatening to its immediate neighbors such as Japan and Koreas, as opposed to America herself. We can't go nuclear over these loss of American influence and protections. So Americans may need to share its stage as "top dog" in the world arenas, but this is no cause for a nuclear contest - that will be foolish. Regarding reports that Americans are strengthening its nuclear preparation and arsenal, I am also skeptical. I am sure there are secrets projects to develop nuclear capable stealth bombers, stealth submarines and naval ships, even more efficient and smart "bombs" that can be nuclear capable, but I don't believe we are yet again enhancing or adding to our nuclear inter-continental missiles, which was the hallmark of the Cold War. There were just too many of these missiles already to destroy the world that we don't need more to deter any nations.
Because of all the tension and worry around Isis, I don't think the world should worry about a nuclear war erupting. If some of the strongest countries like the United States or Russia were to involve themselves in a nuclear war, it would allow Isis to increase their power while other powerful countries become weak with war. Also, the United States and Russia have a history (the Cold War) of always threatening to create nuclear trouble with each other, but never actually doing anything. Between the two countries, ego and ability to show off power is high, but I don't believe it is actually serious because it would harm too much to repair. Obama and Putin both understand how serious and dangerous nuclear war is, it's not like any other war in the past, it could ruin the world, literally. Putin's ego is inflated, but I don't think it is to the point of worry.
I do not think that another nuclear war will happen any time soon. Even though it was half a century ago, it is still widely known how catastrophic the nuclear bombs were. Possibly in a couple hundred years as the memory of Nagasaki and Hiroshima eases there will be another nuclear war. However, I thing that Carter's claim that the US has started modernizing it's nuclear arsenal it definitely possible. The US needs to be prepared if we were to be attacked. I think that it is likely that the US government has been consistently working on nuclear war power under wraps for a long time. The threat of other countries with nukes remains therefore the US must have some of our own to stand our ground and not allow for other countries to intimidate us with bombings. Additionally, we have been at war almost constantly since World War II, so the possibility of nuclear war could have and might become an issue, despite the unlikeliness.I would say that the threat level the the United States at this point of nuclear war is around a 2 near the no threat absolute, but that does not mean we should not be prepared for it.
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