List of Pros and Cons of Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear weapons are the most powerful fighting tools that the world has ever known and they are made possible when nuclear fission, fusion, or a combination of the two release energy and cause an explosion. Since the destruction caused from the bombing of Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the world became aware of the strength and ability to cause great damage that these weapons possess. There may be an uninterrupted debate about how to handle these weapons and which nations are allowed to possess them. It is also logical to weigh the good and bad aspects of such weapons and how best to deal with them.

List of Pros of Nuclear Weapons

Like so many other things in our daily lives, the use of weapons can be examined in terms of their good and bad sides. Even nuclear weapons have their place among other sought-after technology with nations that want to be as secure as possible. With the sheer number of nuclear weapons that already exist in the world, nations like the U.S. can defend themselves against any potential enemy that wishes to cause major damage to them.

1. Global Defense
Nuclear weapons are likely key deterrents to major wars flaring up and acts of aggression by rogue nations. With such power behind them, nations that have nuclear weapons are far less likely to be attacked by another nation, even if that other nation also has a nuclear arsenal. The better a nation can defend itself, the more likely it is that no one will want to risk going against them and that results in more peacetime. This fact also makes it easier for diplomatic talks to work out since no one really wants to get into a conflict that can end with nuclear weapons.

2. Power Supply
Nations that have nuclear weapons can benefit from the power and status that comes with the territory. As small and insignificant as many view North Korea to be in certain ways, other nations pay attention to their actions and wishes since they have a large fighting force and a small amount of nuclear weapons. No one wants their homeland to experience a nuclear weapon attack and most nations will do whatever they can to avoid any conflict that may lead to one. This makes it better for communication and the willingness to listen to one another.

3. War Deterrent
Smaller nations can stand a chance of defending themselves against larger nations that have more money and military capabilities when the have nuclear weapons. This can increase the peace and make it less likely that certain nations will get bullied or invaded. Alliances have this same affect when a nation that has nuclear weapons is allied with nations that do not have them. The protection that non-nuclear capable nations can have from nations that are capable has prevented many conflicts over the years that could have went badly.

The number of nations that have the resources and ability to create nuclear weapons is high enough to where nations that already have these weapons want to hold on to some of them. If a nation that has a dangerous leader wants to make new nuclear weapons, it is logical for some other nation to have their own weapons that can face that threat. Removing every single nuclear weapon from the earth can leave an opening for some combative nation or group to build their own and pose a real risk to others.

List of Cons of Nuclear Weapons

1. Cost and Maintenance
Like everything else that a nation owns and operates, nuclear weapons cost money to build and maintain. Unlike some other national resources, nuclear weapons cost quite a bit to own and can negatively affect the treasury. This may make it difficult for a nation to invest in other areas that they need to and can cause political criticism. There are only a handful of nations that have these weapons on hand and there are some very productive and wealthy nations that survive without a single one of them.

2. Lack of Morals
The morals that are associated with lawful nations and people are seriously put into question when nuclear weapons come into play. It is considered much more honorable to get rid of nuclear arms and reduce their numbers. Nations like the U.S. and Russia have had agreements to decrease the number of deployed nuclear weapons and set an example for other nations. The appeal of these types of weapons has reduced over the years and they are now seen as something that should be controlled and reduced in a safe manner.

3. Environmental Impact
The horror of the bombing of the two Japanese cities in World War 2 has not been forgotten to this day and is a major reason to avoid using nuclear weapons at any time. There is an extraordinary amount of damage done to people and the earth with the use of nuclear weapons and none have been used in over 50 years. Thermal radiation follows the use of these weapons and can cause massive firestorms that can destroy a lot of extra land. Radiation and fallout continue to do their damage after the bomb has exploded and the recovery process can take many years.

4. Physical Damage
Human life trumps any physical damage to building and land and there is potential for great human loss when nuclear weapons are used. The damage they can cause among nation who uses the bomb and the nation that is being hit can last for decades. Conflicts that escalate to levels that bring nuclear weapons into play are dangerous for the entire planet and can hurt everyone. It is always better to find diplomatic ways to avoid wars and any weapons that cause such devastation. Nations that would use nuclear weapons in the future will likely be considered wicked for putting so many lives at risk when the know how these weapons work.

There are many factors to consider with the possession of nuclear weapons and how to handle them in the future. With as much destruction that has come from the use of two of these weapons in the past, there may have been many lives saved in the years afterwards by avoiding the use of these weapons.