Global Security

Of the four issues presented in class (nuclear weapons, chemical warfare, terrorism, and environmental hazards/ dangers to the environment), it is hard to say which is the most frightening. A deterioration in our living conditions/environment directly affects our quality of life. For example--toxins in run-off from factories enter local water systems and make their way into our food and poison other organisms on the way as well. But although pollution may be a result of carelessness and possibly greed, it is not really malice. No one sets out to hurt the planet. It happens, and some people lack the foresight to care. Nuclear weapons are a power symbol; it has been this way since their creation and the Cold War. I think nations want nuclear capability as a "defense thing", kind of like taking an umbrella with you so it doesn't rain: have nuclear weapons not to bomb someone else, but discourage them from bombing you. In my opinion, chemical weapons are the scariest, because like Maggie said, you can't see the gas or the spores or whatever they want to shove in envelopes next--and it's the hardest to escape. A lot of chemical weapons seem to be gases or substances that permeate the air. We have to breathe!
The anthrax in the mail incident is shocking--who thinks to do that? Because it's actually a good idea in the sense that everyone opens their mail. Also, once people realize what is happening, the mail is going to need to be put on hold because of possible dangers...and a chaotic chain reaction ensues. Terrorism is associated with both nuclear and chemical warfare because both weapons allow a person or group to create fear.