Arms race...

Slate provides a decent take on our dealings with n. korea in the area of nuclear power and the star wars program. We have gone from a stance that rejected missile defense systems to one that advocates them, potentially starting another arms race with n. korea and other countries.

On one hand, it seems like a good idea to have the capability of stopping a nuclear weapon, but if we can develop these capabilities, then so can others. From what I understand, it is a treaty formed between the u.s. and the soviet union in the seventies for the purpose of stopping an arms race between the two countries. The u.s. (under the dub admin) has since withdrawn (and I'm aware that this is old news) from this treaty to further our ability to defend ourselves from long range missiles. As a result, the idea of "mutually assured destruction" goes out the window and it is theorized that n. korea could be developing it's nuclear capabilities before we have a chance to fully implement our defense. I don't feel like I'm doing the article any justice, so just go read it...

On a kind of similar note, congress is allowing the ban on assault weapons to expire on sep. 13th, allowing uzis and tec-9s back to fall back into public hands, legally anyway. To renew the ban, dubya has to sign something or other, something of which he has not done and probably won't do. Of course the nra opposes the renewal and may be the reason for the monkeys reluctance. Food for thought... what kind of person wants an uzi or an ak-47?