War and peace...

...Is a VERY big book, but thats not important right now.

What is important is N Korea claiming to have tested a nuclear weapon successfully.

There is uproar, obviously, and expected sanctions against them.

Each time nuclear issues take centre stage of world affairs due to an 'incident' like this I come back to the same question.

That is, if I was in a non nuclear country, in a volatile area, would I want nuclear powers?

I am not in that position so its hard to say, but I suspect I may very well believe that my country had as much right to that 'protection' as any other.

Its a sore and old argument creaking under its own cliche, but who are we to dictate who can have nuclear weapons when we ourselves are guilty of having them? How can we own something that we consider vital to our own security, yet, on the other hand, stop other countries from doing so due to economical sanctions and political bully tactics?

Now, I am not saying a country like N Korea is a great place. I am not saying their people live a free live and support the government. I am not saying their government are stable and rational and would not do something the world would deeply regret, but then would America or the UK not fall into all those fears?

The UK and US human rights record is not really the best and has come into question again in recent years. We all know the US are the only ones ever to use nuclear power in war. We also know they are quite prone to crusades to enforce their beliefs.

From my view, our political system is much better and fairer than N Korea or a country like it, but I am sure certain people in those regime's would argue the same. So how can we be so sure we are right and how can we be the world's school master, choosing which children have which prvilidges and which we will punish for not sticking to the rules based on our history, culture and political beliefs.

I find it all a bit frightening, but the US having nuclear weapons is the thing I probably find most frightening. Their gung-ho attitude suggests they are as likely to slip and touch the red button as anyone else.

Until we dissarm how can we be so hypocritical?