Nuclear Power: A Global Bargaining Chip

8:15 AM, August 6, 1945: The first atomic bomb was unleashed on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, on Aug 9, another devastating bomb fell on Nagasaki, thus bringing Japan to its knees and hence closing the final chapters of World War II.

The two atomic bombs did more than that: it ushered in a new era of nuclear warfare, and ultimately became the catalyst for a major confrontation between two great superpowers, the United States of America and the former Soviet Union.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cold War had drawn to a close, but nuclear proliferation of nuclear weapons amongst an increasing number of nations, as in the case of North Korea, one of the last bastions of the former Communist bloc has become one of the most worrying global issues to date.

Countries such as North Korea and Iran (members of Bush's infamous "Axis of Power"), have kick-started existing nuclear programs, and both have, in a way, got away with their deeds.

Just what is it that drives these nations to build these weapons of mass destruction?

North Korea's Bargaining Chip

North Korea's admission on Feb 10, 2005 that it possesses nuclear weapons drew concern from the international community.
Hampered by restrictions and trade embargos for decades, North Korean President, Kim Jong Il, may be looking for some breaks to ease the restrictions.

Using its nuclear weapons program as a triumph card, it has managed to win a concessions brokered by its communist ally, China. In return for food aid from the US, the North Korean authorities are supposed to shut down all their nuclear facilities.

Negotiations are on going, but it remains to be seen whether North Korea will bite the bait. After all, when you have the meanest, most powerful weapon on Earth, surely you wouldn't give them up for mere bags of rice?

Iran: Resurrection of Nuclear Plants to Deal with US Threat

With the US invasion of Afghanistan and its one time nemesis, Iraq, Iran is probably feeling less secure than North Korea.
Having witnessed first hand how the Bush Administration have manipulated the US war machine, the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, may sleep better with the sound of running nuclear plants in the still of the night.

Given the reining Iranian President's penchant for his rants against the state of Israel (he once called for Israel to be wiped off the face of the map), and US's suspicions that Iranian agents have been sent into Iran to increase the already boiling cauldron of the Iraqi crisis, it isn't difficult to see why Iran has once again resurrected Iran's once dormant nuclear policy.

Nuclear Power: A New Form of Insurance

When a nation achieves nuclear status, it is automatically a member of the nuclear nations club. Whether the country is a legitimate nation or a rogue one is beside the point: Nuclear power gives a nation unprecedented security against full-scale invasion, plus more authority on the international arena, as Iran and North Korea has found out with delight.

Given that the end of the cold war has given rise to nuclear capability in smaller nations, it may be that we are witnessing a second, more dangerous cold war in the times ahead.