President Donald Trump recently ordered the U.S. to resume testing of its nuclear weapons, which it discontinued in 1992. It comes quickly in response to Russia’s testing of a nuclear-powered underwater drone (aka the Poseidon). These are alarming and dispiriting developments. Testing such weapons serves more than one purpose. Indeed, “testing” is more of a euphemism for reckless saber-rattling. The timing here is important, as Trump’s decision also came just before Trump was set to sit down with China’s leader, Xi Jinping. Tensions between these two countries have been rising as a roller coaster of a trade war goes on, and China continues to flex its proverbial muscles over Taiwan and the important sea lanes abutting its borders. Similarly, the U.S. and Russia remain at stark odds over the continuing war in Ukraine.
Testing nukes raises anxiety of citizens all over the world. Nuclear weapons are unique in that there cannot be any limited use because it crosses such a red line that retaliation and escalation are virtually guaranteed. The potential horrors of nuclear war have faded since the end of the Cold War. But earlier this year there have been several needed reminders. Japan marked 80 years since the atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima; a book published in 2024 by Annie Jacobsen (“Nuclear War”) gives a chilling and highly detailed minute-by-minute account of how a nuclear war would likely unfold. And a new movie, “A House of Dynamite” (directed by Kathryn Bigelow), does much the same.
All this is to say that the U.S. and world vitally need a revitalized anti-nuclear-weapons campaign, now. Mass popular movements can effectively pressure government leaders. In the past, this led to the partial and comprehensive nuclear test ban treaties (1963 and 1996, respectively) and other arms control and nonproliferation agreements. There appears to be a renewed interest and participation in mass protest in the U.S., as nationwide “No Kings” gatherings show with nearly 7 million participants. This energy and interest need to be linked to efforts toward stopping U.S. and other nations from flirting with nuclear holocaust.
Phillip Trobaugh, St. Paul
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