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Why Nuclear Arms Control is Failing

February 16, 2006

     In this nuclear age, actions speak louder than words. While America shouts its anti-nuclear message to the rest of the world, it sits on a massive arsenal of state-of-the-art nuclear missiles. And for some reason, the government doesn’t think that anyone can see the pile which it tries to cover.

     For a country that wants to be a leader, its government should act like a leader. The Bush administration (and of course many administrations before it) talks a big game about the need to curb nuclear proliferation, but does little to back it up. America’s credibility on the issue is being weakened by its hypocritical policies. But our country can’t fully take the blame; all the other nuclear capable countries that preach the same gospel share as much guilt. The only thing that holds the world under their hollow words is the flimsy Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an antiquated U.N. agreement that does little to bind countries to its guidelines.

     Under the NPT, countries are allowed nuclear technology for their energy needs in exchange for a pledge of nuclear abstinence. Once a nation has these energy capabilities, it is potentially months away from developing a nuclear weapon. It only has to give short notice of its withdrawal from the agreement. Of course, the centrifugal capabilities needed to extract highly enriched uranium and plutonium can be difficult to obtain. But, as proved many times-- where there’s a will there’s a way. The scientific and political determination of a nation can hurdle such obstacles.

     The spread of nuclear weapons technology should be alarming to all Americans. Unfortunately, we have done little to stop it. Our nation’s ability to manage the situation is slipping away. In Asia, North Korea claims to have short-range missiles able to hit Japan. Because of this, South Korea and Japan have explored the possibilities of nuclear weaponry. China-- the fastest growing military power in the world-- maintains a sizable nuclear arm. Pakistan and India, while not on particularly tense terms at the moment, do have the capabilities to wipe each other out. And Russia has failed to secure much of its weapons grade uranium and plutonium at old weapons facilities in former USSR territories. This has opened up the horrible possibility of a terrorist organization acquiring nuclear capabilities.

     In the Middle East, Iran has defiantly continued its nuclear program. While making comments about “wiping Israel off the map,” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has resumed his secretive activities at the Natanz nuclear facility. Although he claims to be developing a peaceful program for energy, all signs point toward something a bit more malevolent. Meanwhile, Israel sits on its undeclared nuclear arsenal and considers the possibility of a preventative strike.

     So as America continues to fumble and trip over its desire to spread Freedom, Liberty and Democracy, a very scary nuclear order is developing. We claim to be concerned about the issue but do little about it. The Bush administration has repeatedly called for a nuclear-free Asian Peninsula and Middle East (all the while turning a blind eye toward Israel’s stash of goodies). But those threats don’t add up to much when our country retains the second largest stockpile of nuclear arms in the world. Heck, the president has even talked about testing a new toy-- the so called “bunker buster.” Imagine how his calls for non-proliferation will go over then. The hypocrisy would be utterly embarrassing. What would he say? I suppose he and the rest of the administration would just yell their message louder so it could be heard over the rumble of the tests.

     In order to set an example, the United States needs to disarm (and perhaps some day abolish) its tens of thousands of nuclear weapons. Our honest efforts to disarm the US nuclear stockpile will send a powerful message to the world. I believe this is the critical first step that is missing from our non-proliferation policies. This gesture would open up doors to successful negotiation. We also need to strengthen the non-binding agreement under the NPT. In addition, the country needs to do more about protecting nuclear material in unsecured regions of the world from getting into the hands of terrorists. Unfortunately, while we preoccupy ourselves with our own terrorist creation in Iraq, there are shady criminals around the world trying to get a piece of the nuclear pie. Right now we just don’t have the full military or intelligence capabilities to stop them.

     The goals just outlined are complex and not easily achievable. Solutions to problems of this scale are not as simple as they seem to the common person. But doesn’t it make sense to practice what you preach? Shouldn’t our country’s actions match its words? In my opinion, real change will come from a drastic shift in our diplomacy. Ridding ourselves of these foul weapons would prove that our country can take a meaningful stand against nuclear proliferation. But until that day comes, our nuclear arms control policies will be nothing but rhetorical assertions.
                                                    -SL

There’s a big problem with parking at FPC. But it’s not because of the lack of spaces.

February 2, 2006

     I usually start the first 10 minutes of my day at Franklin Pierce searching for a parking spot that isn’t there. Taking a peak over the four corners, I am always dismayed to see the commuter parking next to RavenCroft full. Consequently, my slow drive around campus turns into a quick jog to class.

     People like to moan about the parking problem at FPC. It’s an issue that students enjoy complaining about over and over. Most people claim that our problem is the lack of spaces around campus. Build more parking lots, they say. This is wrong. I think there are enough painted lines for those who need them. What we have is a driving problem. Too many residents from Lakeview and Sawmills are swinging their cars 500 feet to get a space closer to class. Every time this happens, a spot is lost for every off-campus student needing a place to park.

     My annoying jaunt to class is not what concerns me about this problem. The real issue is about poor driving habits. What is the point in driving your car such short distances? Following this habit adds to the already problematic environmental damage and health problems associated with driving.

     Because we are so used to the luxury of the automobile, it is very easy to always rely on its convenience. Therefore, we neglect other options we may have (like feet?) When a car is available for us to use, other forms of transportation are easily overlooked.

     I understand that it is winter. Obviously, more people are going to be driving short distances when it’s cold and snowy. (Actually, this winter has been anything but cold and snowy). But seriously, when put into perspective, is walking three minutes to class in the winter such a big deal? You applied to a school in New Hampshire, knowing full well the unpredictable weather patterns in winter. Maybe you should buy some boots and sluff through the elements. Try it sometime, it’s really not that bad.

     There are many reasons why people drive their cars to campus—especially in winter. I am not out to attack those who do drive, I’m just trying to raise concerns about what kind of behavior that teaches us. Once you get in the habit of driving everywhere, it is likely to carry on for life. Too many people already have an unhealthy dependence on automobiles (even me in many ways). But there are easy ways to cut down on the need to drive.

     In my opinion, if everybody in the nation walked that extra 500 feet instead of taking a car, we could dramatically decrease the environmental and health problems associated with excessive driving.

     And if you stopped driving, I’d always get the best space.

My Love/Hate Relationship with Final Exams
by Stephen Lacey

(Dec. 15, 2005)

     Call me crazy, but I enjoy final exam time.

     It’s kind of fun to watch everyone run around with their eyes bugged out, trying to wrap up everything at once. As the stress pulses in student’s veins, I like to sit back and enjoy the end to the semester. Maybe it’s just my sadistic side, but I especially enjoy my tranquility while others are suffering around me. It helps me appreciate my situation.

     Okay, so maybe I’m being a little flippant. I don’t really like to see people suffer. In fact, I have sympathy for those under extreme academic pressure. It’s not very fun to have five projects and five tests to complete in a week. Nobody likes that. But there is any easy way to avoid this nightmare: do your work throughout the semester.

     Good Lord, he said it. Do your work? Yes, I mean it. Actually do your work throughout the semester. That would mean looking at the syllabus, reading your books, and getting papers in on time. And here’s the real kicker-- starting your final projects early. That means doing research and writing notes more than a week before the project is due.

     Damn, this kid must be a geek. Well no, I don’t consider myself one. I just care about what I study. I didn’t come to college to brag about what I haven’t done. I came to college to educate myself. I’m not paying tens of thousands of dollars to do nothing. I don’t understand students who take a major and don’t really care about it. They act like their studies get in the way of their real lives. Well that just disappoints me. If you don’t care, then what the heck are you doing in college? I get excited when others are passionate about the material they study. I learn just as much from students as professors. The job of the teacher is to present material and let pupils discuss and interpret the information. What is there to learn if the teacher is forced into an academic soliloquy that just bores everyone? I wish that more people would act like they want to be in school rather than treat it like a hassle. In my opinion, this behavior is one of the root causes of finals week stress.

    By digesting the class materials over the course of the semester, learning becomes easy. It almost happens by accident. If you are actively engaged in the class, you will learn everything you need to know for final exams. Writing an essay question will be as easy as regular conversation. But you shouldn’t go into a class with this attitude. You should learn because you want to learn, not because you want to get a good grade on a final exam. The exam should be proof of your semester-long efforts. If you care, it will be evident in the test.

     Now, I understand that this does not work in all situations. Paying attention in class doesn’t guarantee a better test score. There are some tests you simply have to cram for. But this method is an important step. It will go a long way toward maintaining your mental health at the end of the semester.

     I’m not saying that people deserve to be so stress ridden. All I’m saying is that when the headless chickens come home to roost, I will be staring in the barn window, chuckling as they frantically run around.
 

The Black Season
by Stephen Lacey

(Dec. 6, 2005)

     Americans typically don’t get to relax much. We are so focused on work, work, work and buy, buy, buy, that we don’t have time to enjoy the things that should make us happy-- good health, family, and friends. So why, during the holiday season do we run ourselves into the ground by focusing on shopping and setting up those grossly elaborate displays of lights and cheap, plastic reindeer? Why do we think that more stuff equals more happiness? It is too easy to lose sight of the real meaning of the holidays when your up to your neck in X-Box’s, tickle-me Elmo’s and glowing Santas. This is what I call the “Black Season.”
       
        The day after Thanksgiving is the worst day of the year. The day is called “Black Friday” because it brings many businesses out of the red (debt) and into the black (profit). I call it Black Friday because it represents the rabid, blind consumerism that will mark the rest of the holiday season. I see it everywhere, and it bugs me. I work at a movie theater in Keene, and the day after Thanksgiving is the worst day of the year. This is the day when the theater turns into a baby-sitting service. Shopping crazed parents drop their kids off at a movie so they can hit up as many stores as possible. They give their kid $40, throw him/her in the door and let them loose. It’s damn crazy. It’s hard to keep up with 150 unsupervised, sugar-crazed kids. But that’s just a sign of the season I guess.
       
        During the “Black Season,” the media spout off nothing but economic figures. They all tout the flag of consumerism, feeding people the message that buying more is the right thing to do. It seems the only stories on the holiday season are about consumer confidence, consumer rage, retail figures and shopping deals. What is going on here!? Why are we all marching to the same relentless drumbeat of consumerism? I’m not saying shopping is a bad thing--we are all consumers. But why are we letting this attitude highjack the real meaning of the holidays? Haven’t we had enough of this crap all year long?

        I love the holidays. I just don’t like the shopping madness that comes with it. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, people will be running around like mad, looking for the next best deal on a product. During this season, people will open up their wallets and let the cash flow. This is the “Black Season,” when material desires swallow up the true meaning of the holidays. Don’t buy into the hype

Iraq: To leave or to stay?
by Stephen Lacey

(Dec. 1, 2005)

     It seems the question on everybody's lips these days is not if we will win the war in Iraq, but when we will get out. President Bush delivered his update on the military effort today. As usual, not much was said. He gave no specifics on withdrawal except to say that American troops would continue to train Iraqis. He says that a hasty withdrawal will be detrimental to American national security in the long run. He says that American troops will stay until they have finished, or until the Iraqi government tells us to leave. Unfortunately, I agree with Bush that this is the best option. It is obvious that we never should have gone to war in the first place. All the arguments that lead us into war have been debunked. Even the argument that the White House and Pentagon are still using--that we are fighting the War on Terror in Iraq so we don't have to fight it on American soil-- doesn't stand up. The War in Iraq has acted as a recruiting tool for Muslim extremists all around the world. Not only are American troops in harms way, but American citizens should have more to fear. In the face of all these concerns, politicians and citizens are calling for a proposed timetable for withdrawal. But we shouldn't be too hasty. We have already done enough damage. The last thing we need is for a civil war to break out between Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds after Americans leave. We need to ensure that the government and military can stand on their own feet. When either or both of these tasks are completed, America can leave Iraq. Although I was vehemently opposed to the invasion and occupation of Iraq, I must agree with the president on the issue of withdrawal. We can't be to hasty. But we can't just ignore the problem either.