Theos-Talk Archives (April 2006 Message tt00513)

Technology is a result of intellectual evolution.  In itself it is neither good or bad, a product if you like.  Unfortunately man has not evolved morally to ensure that it  is only used for the improvement of humanity.  I cannot see this happening until our morality evolves at the same rate as our intellectuality.  Sad, but true, I fear.
Cass

Vincent <vblaz2004@sbcglobal.net> wrote: Technological advancement is reflective of human evolution.  There 
is a direct correlation between intellect and ballistic efficiency.

Blessings

Vince

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Cass Silva  wrote:
>
> Thought you might all find this interesting.Cass
> 
> 
> Estimated worldwide nuclear stockpiles The following is a list of 
nations that have admitted the possession of nuclear weapons, the 
approximate number of warheads under their control in 2002, and the 
year they tested their first weapon. This list is informally known 
in global politics as the "Nuclear Club". Note that with the 
exception of Russia and the United States (which have subjected 
their nuclear forces to independent verification under various 
treaties) these figures are estimates, in some cases quite 
unreliable estimates. Also, these figures represent total warheads 
possessed, rather than deployed. In particular, under the SORT 
treaty thousands of Russian and US nuclear warheads are in inactive 
stockpiles awaiting processing. The contained radioactive fuel can 
then be recycled for use in nuclear reactors that drive nuclear 
power plants and some military submarines and warships.
>  From a high of 65,000 active weapons in 1985, there were about 
20,000 active nuclear weapons in the world in 2002. Many of 
the "decommissioned" weapons were simply stored or partially 
dismantled, not destroyed.[1]
>     
>  World map with nuclear weapons development status represented by 
color. Red: Five "nuclear weapons states" from the NPT. Dark orange: 
Other known nuclear powers. Yellow: States suspected of having 
possession of, or suspected of being in the process of developing, 
nuclear weapons and/or nuclear programs. Purple: States which at one 
point had nuclear  weapons and/or nuclear weapons research programs. 
Green: Other states capable of developing nuclear weapons within 
several years if the decision to do so were made.
>  
>  
>   Declared nuclear weapons states  Country Warheads active/total* 
Year of first test    United States 5,735/9,960[2] 1945 
("Trinity")    Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) 5,830/16,000[3] 
1949 ("RDS-1")    United Kingdom <200[4] 1952 ("Hurricane")    
France 350[5] 1960 ("Gerboise Bleue")    People's Republic of China 
400[6] 1964 ("596")    India 40-50[7] 1974 ("Smiling Buddha")    
Pakistan 24-48[8] 1998 ("Chagai-I")    North Korea 0-10[9] none
[10]   *All numbers are estimates from the Natural Resources Defense 
Council, published in  the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, unless 
other references are given. If differences between active and total 
stockpile are known, they are given as two figures separated by a 
forward slash. If no specifics are known, only one figure is given. 
Stockpile number may not contain all intact warheads if a 
substantial amount of warheads are scheduled for but have not yet 
gone through dismantlement; not all "active" warheads are deployed 
at any
>  given time. When a spread of weapons is given (e.g., 0-10), it 
generally indicates that the estimate is being made on the amount of 
fissile material which has likely been produced, and the amount of 
fissile material needed per warhead depends on estimates of a 
country's proficiency at nuclear weapon design.
>  [edit]
>  
>  States that have tested a nuclear weapon    
>  An early stage in the "Trinity" fireball.
>  
>  
>  
>     The United States developed the first atomic weapons during 
World War II out of the fear that Nazi Germany would first develop 
them. It tested its first nuclear  weapon in 1945 ("Trinity"), and 
remains the only country to have used nuclear weapons against 
another nation, during the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 
(see: Manhattan Project). It was the first nation to develop the 
hydrogen bomb, testing it ("Ivy Mike") in 1952 and a deployable 
version in 1954 ("Castle Bravo").
>     The USSR tested its first nuclear weapon ("Joe-1") in 1949, in 
a crash project developed partially with espionage obtained during 
and after World War II (see: Soviet atomic bomb project). The direct 
motivation for their weapons development was the development of a 
balance of power during the Cold War. It tested a primitive hydrogen 
bomb in 1953 ("Joe-4") and a megaton-range hydrogen bomb in 1955 
("RDS-37"). After its dissolution in 1991, its weapons entered 
officially into the possession of  Russia.
>     The United Kingdom tested its first nuclear weapon 
("Hurricane") in 1952, drawing largely on data gained while 
collaborating with the United States during the Manhattan Project. 
Its program was motivated to have an independent deterrence against 
the USSR, while also remaining relevant in Cold War Europe. It 
tested its first hydrogen bomb in 1957.
>     France tested its first nuclear weapon in 1960, also as an 
independent deterrence and to retain perceived Cold War relevance 
(see: Force de frappe). It tested its first hydrogen bomb in 1968.
>     The People's  Republic of China tested its first nuclear 
weapon in 1964, much to the surprise of Western intelligence 
agencies. It had long sought assistance in becoming a nuclear power 
from an uneasy USSR, but assistance stopped after the Sino-Soviet 
split and the weapon was developed as a deterrent against both the 
USA and the USSR. It tested its first hydrogen bomb in 1967 at Lop 
Nur. The country is currently thought to have had a stockpile of 400 
warheads since the early 1980s, though with considerably fewer than 
this actually deployed.[11]
>     
>   An Indian Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile displayed 
at the Republic Day Parade 2004. (Photo: Antônio Milena/ABr)
>  
>  
>  
>     India tested a "peaceful nuclear device", as it was described 
by Indian government, in 1974 ("Smiling Buddha"), the first test 
developed after the creation of the NPT, and created new questions 
about how civilian nuclear technology could be diverted secretly to 
weapons purposes (dual-use technology). It appears to have been 
primarily motivated as a deterrent against China. It tested 
weaponized nuclear warheads in 1998 ("Operation Shakti"), including 
a hydrogen bomb (though the yield of this device is debated with 
some speculation that the secondary fusion stage failed to ignite). 
In July 2005, it was officially recognized by the United States as 
a "responsible nuclear" state and agreed to full nuclear cooperation 
between the two nations. This is seen as an "official" entry into 
the nuclear club of the above nations.
>     Pakistan covertly developed its nuclear weapons over many 
decades with active Chinese assistance, beginning in the late 1970s. 
It is contended that Pakistan began its nuclear development programs 
in response to India's nuclear device. It is unknown when Pakistan 
began its nuclear development projects, but by the 1980s it was 
suspected of having successfully developed nuclear warheads. 
However, this was to remain speculative until 1998 when Pakistan 
conducted its first nuclear tests at the Chaghaii hills, a few days  
after India conducted its own tests.
>  [edit]
>  
>  Suspected nuclear states Countries believed to have at least one 
nuclear weapon, or programs with a realistic chance of producing a 
nuclear weapon in the near future:
>     
>  On October 5, 1986, the British newspaper The Sunday  Times ran 
Mordechai Vanunu's story on its front page under the 
headline: "Revealed �" the secrets of Israel's nuclear arsenal."
>  
>  
>  
>     Israel - Israel is not a member of the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty and refuses to officially confirm or deny 
having a nuclear arsenal, or to having developed nuclear weapons, or 
even to  having a nuclear weapons program. Although Israel claims 
that Dimona is a "research reactor," no scientific reports based on 
work done there have ever been published. Extensive information 
about the program in Dimona was also disclosed by technician 
Mordechai Vanunu in 1986. Imagery analysts can identify weapon 
bunkers, mobile missile launchers, and launch sites in satellite 
photographs. It is believed to possess nuclear weapons by the 
International Atomic Energy Agency. Israel may have tested a nuclear 
weapon along with South Africa in 1979 (see Vela  Incident). 
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council and the 
Federation of American Scientists, they may possess 300-400 weapons, 
a figure which would put them above the median in the declared list.
[12]
>     North Korea - On January 10, 2003 North Korea withdrew from 
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In February 2005 they claimed 
to possess functional nuclear weapons, though their lack of a test 
has led many experts to question whether or not they have a working 
weapon.
>  [edit]
>  
>  States suspected of having clandestine nuclear programs The 
question of whether individual states without nuclear weapons are 
trying to develop them is often a controversial one. Accusations of 
clandestine nuclear programs are often vehemently denied, and may be 
politically motivated themselves, or simply erroneous. Below are 
countries who have been accused by a number of governments and 
intergovernmental agencies as currently attempting to develop 
nuclear weapons technology who are not suspected as yet having 
developed it.
>     
>  At the Uraniums Conversion Facility in Isfahan, Iran, yellowcake 
is converted into uranium hexafluoride as part of Iran's nuclear 
fuel cycle, which has been alleged to be part of a clandestine 
attempt to develop nuclear weapons.
>  
>  
>  
>     Iran - Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and 
says its interest in nuclear technology, including enrichment, was 
for civilian purposes only (a right guaranteed under the treaty), 
but the CIA and many other western countries suspect that this may 
be a cover for a nuclear weapons program, claiming that Iran has 
little need to develop nuclear power domestically and that it has 
consistently chosen nuclear options which were dual-use technology 
rather than those which could only be used for power generation.[13] 
The Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi stated on the intentions 
of his country's nuclear ambitions: "Iran will develop nuclear power 
abilities and this have to be recognized by the treaties."[14] As of 
February 4, 2006,  the International Atomic Energy Agency referred 
Iran to the United Nations Security Council in response to Western 
concerns on their possible nuclear programs. On April 11, 2006, 
Iran's president announced that the country had
>  successfully enriched uranium to reactor-grade levels for the 
first time.
>  [edit]
>  
>  States formerly possessing nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons have 
been present in many nations, often as staging grounds under control 
of other powers. However, in only a few instances have nations given 
up nuclear weapons after being in control of them; in most cases 
this has been because of special political circumstances. The fall 
of the USSR, for example, left many former Soviet-bloc countries in 
possession of nuclear weapons.
>  
>     Ukraine - signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Ukraine 
inherited about 5,000 nuclear weapons when it became independent 
from the USSR in 1991, making its nuclear arsenal the third-largest 
in the world.[15] By 1996, Ukraine had voluntarily disposed of all 
nuclear weapons within its territory, transferring them to Russia.
[16]
>     Belarus �" Belarus had 81 single  warhead missiles stationed 
in their territory after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. They 
were all returned to Russia by 1996. Belarus signed the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty.[17]
>     Kazakhstan �" Kazakhstan inherited 1,400 nuclear weapons from 
Soviet Union, returned them all to Russia by 1995.  Signed the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[18]
>     South Africa �" Produced six nuclear weapons in the 1980s but 
disassembled them in the early 1990s, and is thus the only nation 
known to have willingly given up nuclear status after developing 
their own weapons. Possibly tested a low yield device in 1979, 
perhaps with Israel, over the southern oceans in the Vela Incident. 
Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[19]
>  [edit]
>  
>  States formerly possessing nuclear programs These are nations 
known to have initiated serious nuclear weapons programs, with 
varying degrees of success. All of them are now regarded as 
currently no longer actively developing, or possessing, nuclear 
arms. All of the listed countries (or their descendants) signed the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
>  
>     Argentina �" Conducted a nuclear weapon research program, 
under military rule of 1978, at a time when it had signed, but not 
ratified, the Treaty of Tlatelolco. This program was abandoned  
after the return of civilian rule in 1983. Argentina later signed 
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. [20]. However, unofficial 
reports and US intelligence postulate that Argentina continued some 
kind of nuclear weapons program during the 1980s and 1990's, mainly 
because of rivalry with Brazil. [21]
>     Australia �" Following World War II, Australian defence 
policy premised joint nuclear weapons development with the United 
Kingdom. Australia provided uranium, land for weapons and rocket 
tests, and scientific and engineering expertise. Canberra was also 
heavily involved in the Blue Streak ballistic missile program. In 
1955, a contract was signed with a British company to build the Hi-
Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR). HIFAR was considered the first step 
towards the construction of larger reactors capable of producing 
substantial volumes of plutonium for nuclear weapons. However, 
Australia's nuclear ambitions were abandoned by the 1960s, and the 
country signed the NPT in 1970 (ratified in 1973). [22]
>     Brazil �" Military regime conducted a nuclear weapon research 
program (code-named "Solimões") to acquire nuclear weapons in 1978, 
in spite of having ratified the Treaty of Tlatelolco in 1968. When 
an elected government came into power in 1985, though, the program 
was  ended.[23] On July 13, 1998 President Fernando Henrique Cardoso 
signed and ratified both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 
and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), denying that Brazil 
had developed nuclear weapons.[24]
>     Egypt �" Had a nuclear weapon research program from 1954 to 
1967. Egypt signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. [25]
>     Nazi Germany �" During World War II, Germany, under Nazi 
rule, researched possibilities to develop a nuclear weapon. However 
adequate resources were not invested into the effort and the project 
was found to be many years from completion by the end of the war. 
The research site was also sabotaged by the British spies and 
Norwegian partisans which slowed down their research (see Norwegian 
heavy water sabotage). Historian Rainer Karlsch, in his 2005 book 
Hitlers Bombe, has suggested that the Nazis may have tested some 
sort of "atom bomb" in Thuringia in the last year of the war; it  
may have been a radiological weapon rather than a fission weapon), 
though little reliable evidence of this has surfaced. (See: German 
nuclear energy project) Germany is now a signatory to the Nuclear 
Non-Proliferation Treaty. Although it has an advanced science and 
technology infrastructure and would be capable of creating a nuclear 
weapons program (and could probably be considered a "nuclear
>  capable" state), the government has decided to decrease even the 
civil use of nuclear energy.
>     Iraq �" Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Had a 
nuclear weapon research program during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1981, 
Israel destroyed Iraqi nuclear reactor Osiraq. In 1996, the UN's 
Hans Blix reported that Iraq had dismantled or destroyed all of 
their nuclear capabilities. In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq, 
charging that there was evidence the nation had "weapons of mass 
destruction" that likely included some form of nuclear program. 
However in 2004 the Duelfer Report concluded Iraq's nuclear program 
was terminated in 1991.[26]
>     Imperial Japan �" Japan conducted research into nuclear 
weapons during World War II though made little headway.[27] (see 
Japanese atomic program). Japan signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation 
Treaty. While Japan has the technological capabilities to develop 
nuclear weapons in a short time there is no evidence they are doing 
so. Japan's constitution forbids it from producing nuclear weapons 
and the country has been active in promoting non-proliferation 
treaties. There exists some suspicion that nuclear weapons may be 
located in US bases in Japan.[28]
>     Libya �" Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. On 
December 19, 2003, Libya admitted having had a nuclear weapon 
program and simultaneously announced its intention to end it and 
dismantle all existing Weapons of Mass Destruction to be verified by 
unconditional inspections.[29]
>     Philippines �" Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 
but the Philippines started its nuclear research program in 1958, 
creating the  Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) thru 
Republic Act 2067 (Science Act of 1958) enacted by Congress to 
undertake research and development activities in the peaceful use of 
nuclear energy. The government built one facility in Quezon City for 
nuclear research which consists of a live nuclear rector and during 
the early 1980s, under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, the 
government built its first nuclear power plant, the Bataan Nuclear 
Power Plant in Bataan province in the main  island of Luzon, but was 
never used because of the change of government under the Corazon 
Aquino administration. Under the present 1987 Philippine 
Constitution, any kind of nuclear materials are banned from 
Philippine soil.
>     Poland �" Nuclear research began in Poland in the early 
1960s, with the first controlled nuclear fission reaction being 
achieved in late 1960s. During the 1970s further research resulted 
in the generation of fusion neutrons through convergent shockwaves. 
In the 1980s research focused on the development of micro-nuclear 
reactions, and was under military control. Currently Poland operates 
the MARIA nuclear research reactor under the control of the 
Institute of Atomic Energy, in Åšwierk near Warsaw. Poland signed 
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and officially possess no 
nuclear weapons.
>     Romania �" Signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 
1970. In spite of this, under Nicolae CeauÅŸescu, in the 1980s, 
Romania had a secret nuclear-weapons development program, that was 
stopped after the overthrow of CeauÅŸescu in 1989. Now Romania runs 
a nuclear power plant of two reactor units (with three more under 
construction) built with Canadian support. It also mines and 
enriches its own uranium for the plant and has a research program.
[30]
>     South Korea �" Began a nuclear weapons program in the early 
1970s, which was believed abandoned after signing NPT in 1975. 
However there have been allegations that program may have been 
continued after this date by the military government.[31] In late 
2004, the South Korean government disclosed to the IAEA that 
scientists in South Korea had extracted plutonium in 1982 and 
enriched uranium to near-weapons grade in 2000. (see South Korean 
nuclear research programs)
>     Sweden �" During the 1950s and 1960s, Sweden seriously 
investigated nuclear weapons, intended to be deployed over coastal 
facilities of an invading enemy (the Soviet Union). A very 
substantial research effort of weapon design and manufacture was 
conducted resulting in enough knowledge to allow Sweden to 
manufacture nuclear weapons. A weapon research facility was to be 
built in Studsvik. Saab made plans for a supersonic nuclear bomber, 
the A36. However Sweden decided not to pursue a weapon production 
program and signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
>     Switzerland �" Between 1946 and 1969 Switzerland had a secret 
nuclear program that came into light in 1995. By 1963 theoretical 

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