It simply is not possible to rid the world of nuclear weapons, as President Barack Obama says he hopes can happen one day. In fact, it may not be a good idea, despite the fact that the goal has been espoused by many U.S. leaders, both Republican and Democrat.
Representatives of nearly 50 countries met this week in Washington to discuss keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. The gathering comes on the heels of Obama's announcement of a new U.S. policy in regard to use of atomic arms. It is that this nation will not use nuclear bombs or missiles against other countries that do not use them against us.
As we have pointed out, that is not a wise policy. Other types of weapons, including biological and chemical armaments, are capable of inflicting terrible losses. So, for that matter, are conventional arms. For decades, U.S. willingness to employ the nuclear deterrent has warned potential enemies that attacking Americans by any method would be disastrous.
Some countries - and certainly, terrorist organizations - simply will not comply with any nuclear weapons ban. U.S. disarmament encourages them to be more aggressive.
It is better, then, for Americans to enjoy the added safety of a nuclear deterrent than to abandon it.