Cold war and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - Essay Example

Cold war and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction The main characteristic of the world in the twentieth century was wars. In line with this, the most memorable wars are the First World War, Second war, and the infamous Cold war. Numerous countries have taken different strategies to win wars, and the world has experienced nations use biological weapons, which have been the most suitable strategy. This article explicates the in-depth knowledge while providing historical perspective of biological weapons, chemical weapons, and nuclear weapons that nations have used to engage in wars.

Biological and chemical weapons are a popular strategy of defeating an enemy. Biological weapons include the use of plague, pneumonic exposure, Epsilon toxin, Tularemia, Smallpox among others. Smallpox, scientifically known as Variola Major, is a fatal infection without a known cure with the only form of prevention being through prior vaccination of an individual. In the 20th century, smallpox has been responsible for an estimated death of 300 million people, which effectively means that the world cannot underestimate the threat posed by smallpox (“Terrorism and other Public Health Emergencies”).

During the Cold War era that stared after the Second World War to the early 90s, there was little evidence regarding the use of Small Pox by nations. Nonetheless, there is evidence that a number of nations developed and stockpiled the virus responsible for small pox with Russia leading at the frontline of developing the bio-weapon. Importantly, Russia was reportedly developing this weapon at a time when the world was conducting a global campaign to eradicate the disease with Russian doctors using the samples collected to develop weapons.

Nonetheless, Russia managed to keep the development of the weapons a secret until 1992 when a Russian defector revealed the plan much to the dismay of the US and the UK (Flight). Chemical warfare has also dominated the world scenery. Among the chemical weapons is a highly poisonous herbicide popularly known as ‘Agent Orange.’ The chemical was popular during the Vietnam War of the 1960s and 1970s whereby approximately 3 million US soldiers took part. Considering that, the US soldiers faced a handicap regarding their familiarity with the Vietnam terrain; the Vietnam soldiers took advantage of this factor and hide in this unfamiliar terrain.

This unfamiliarity of the US soldiers remained a perfect opportunity for the Vietnam soldiers to eliminate their foes (Frumkin 1). However, the US soldiers employed the use of ‘Agent Orange’ in defoliation of the Vietnam soldiers from their hiding places-among them “in rice paddies and fields.” In this approach, many Vietnam soldiers lost their lives. Consequently, the US performance in the war remains impeccable. Therefore, the role of Agent Orange in the war will always be notable in the history of chemical weapons (Frumkin 1).

In the contemporary world, nuclear weapons remain the biggest challenge for world governing bodies like the United Nation (UN). Through treaties such as the Non Proliferation Treaty on Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the world governing body has been able to restrict the possession of nuclear weapons since the treaty reserves the right of admission of member states. Today, five member states the US, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom control admission of other nations to NPT, which further controls all the stockpile of nuclear weapons (U.

S Department of Energy 12). During the cold war, nuclear warfare was the order of the day as nations tried to show case nuclear weapons supremacy. For instance, the US first used nuclear weapons during the Japanese invasion of its territories. In 1964, the world arsenal statics shows that the US possessed 10,300 metric tons while Russia possessed 16,000 metric tons. However, the US and Russia nuclear arsenals remains at “cold war levels” and this call for further investigations into the reasons for such immense piles.

For instance, Russia possesses 40,000 metric tons-what to date is the largest nuclear pile declaration (U.S Department of Energy 12). On the other hand, the US nuclear stocks are way above the 40000 metric tons. A claim it neither refutes nor acknowledges. The US missile is believed to be the largest stocks in the world. Its strategic key ally is reported to possess 100 different types of missiles, which is a claim it vehemently ignores. This is a case of double standards since the US opposes further nuclear ventures of other nations with the country assuming the role of world prefect.

However, the US stand on these nuclear ventures will only make the world unsafe due to the threats of terrorism. Therefore, world nations are safe without nuclear weapons (U.S Department of Energy 25). Finally, the cold war remains the most dramatic war due to its uniqueness in that it stretched the longest with nations adopting new warfare that was more advanced and dangerous than the weapons used in earlier wars. In line with this, it is evident that nations’ development of biological, chemical weapons, and nuclear weapons that have a capacity of annihilating nations made the Cold War era dangerous.

Over time, the US has engaged in various wars to fight its enemies with its allies. At this time, the only weapons that could destroy nations were atomic bombs, like the ones used by the US to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the effects of the bombing are still felt to date, the Cold War era had the most far-reaching effects since it divided the world into two blocs with each bloc acquiring and developing weapons that can result to disastrous effects once used on people. Hence, weapons acquired and developed during the Cold War era, such as nuclear bombs, are more dangerous in comparison to those used during other wars.

Besides, the Cold War era also exposed the US to more enemies than it did during its previous wars. Works Cited Flight, Colette. Silent Weapon: Smallpox and Biological Warfare. BBC. 17 Feb. 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. Frumkin,Howard. Agent Orange and Cancer: An Overview for Clinicians. Johannesburg: Pan Macmillan, 2011. Print. U.S Department of Energy. Assessment and Weapons. N.d.Web. 27 Nov. 2012