One Scary Number

Sir Richard Branson and a number of world dignitaries have come together to form a group called Global Zero who want to see the renewal of Cold War efforts for disarmament, with the eventual goal of eliminating nuclear weapons within 25 years.

There is nothing wrong with their goal to decrease the number nuclear weapons but the number "zero" is a scary concept. Nuclear weapons have provided stability and predictability to the international order since their first use at the end of WWII. Removing all nuclear weapons will likely create a more volatile situation where states, especially rogue states and other troublemakers, will act more readily because they would not have the fear of annihilation.

The deterrence function of nuclear weapons has been one of the most important factors of the decline of inter-state wars in the relations of nations. As nuclear weapons spread to more states, stability ensured from the fear of nuclear war. If you take out the nuclear weapons then the fear dissipates and the world will revert to greater instability. It is also important to note that nuclear weapons have not been used since 1945 so it is not like they have become a mass tool of destruction. Their power is what stabilizes the balance of power amongst nations and makes states' actions predictable. Thus, the presence of nuclear weapons are necessary for stability in the relations of nations.

- blenCOWe