‘Distinguished experts’ lead discussion of nuclear arms

Originally, sophomore Tim Torkelson came to the Student Alliance for National Security and Union Board presentation, “Securing the Bomb: Stopping Nuclear Proliferation in the 21st Century,” to boost his grade instead of out of enjoyment or interest in the topic.\n“I’m going to be honest, I was offered extra credit for a class if I came to this,” he said. \nBut by the end, Torkelson said he found the presentation interesting and said afterward he feels that he knows more about nuclear proliferation than he did when he first arrived.\nThe panelists in attendance were U.S. Ambassador Avis T. Bohlen; former CIA Chief of Clandestine Operations for Europe Tyler Drumheller; and Executive Director of the Arms Control Association Daryl G. Kimball. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Donald Mahley was scheduled to appear, but was unable to attend the event. \nThe panelists said the first step in slowing nuclear proliferation is for the United States to begin talks with other nations.\n“I also really enjoyed Avis Bohlen ripping on the current Bush administration and the nuclear policy,” Torkelson said. \nProfessor David Fidler served as the event moderator, introducing the panelists as “distinguished experts” to discuss the important issue of nuclear threats from states like Iran and North Korea, along with the possibility of nuclear terrorism.\nFreshman Laura Nading, who was among those in attendance, said she felt the discussion was very interesting because it offered an alternative viewpoint.\n“It’s different than what you hear on the news when this topic is discussed,” she said. \nBohlen served as the keynote speaker to explain the current events, focusing specifically on the situations in North Korea and Iran.\nCurrently in North Korea there has been a freeze on the facilities, while in Iran, current talks are moving toward suspending the developing uranium processes, Bohlen said.\n“The agreement with North Korea is welcome, fragile and six years overdue,” Bohlen said. “It’s fragile as we are not certain they will give up their weapons.”\nIran is currently working toward nuclear weapon capabilities, and if talks do not occur soon between the United States and Iran, this fear may be realized, she said.\n“What we have adamantly refused to do is not enter into discussion with Iranians unless they suspend uranium enrichment facilities,” Bohlen said. But, there is no guarantee that dialogues with Iran would solve the situation, she added.\n“I think there has been a more disturbing theme of trivializing nuclear weapons,” Bohlen said. \nDrumheller said that Iran is far along – about five to ten years from developing nuclear weaponry – but he said that is a time clock the United States should not be up against.\n“A damage can be done that no one can even imagine,” Drumheller said of nuclear weapons.\nAll three of the panelists agreed that time is not on the United States’ side and that a look to the future should be in order, for the actions now will affect the situation with nuclear weapons in the future.\nKimball said that it’s like “deja vu” because the North Koreans feel as if the war ended yesterday and they fear a regime change. \nBohlen said only a fool would say nuclear terrorism cannot happen. At the same time, not all terrorists seek use of nuclear weapons because kidnapping and other behaviors are easier and just as effective.\nKimball brought into discussion the nuclear weapons that the United States possesses.\n“Why does the U.S. have as many nuclear warheads as we do?” he said. “These weapons are not very useful, the only real purpose is to detour another country from launching devastation on another country.”\nFreshman Kirsten Reinecke said “it’s clearly a problem,” regarding nuclear weapons.\n“Our generation will have to deal with this and hopefully we will, but it will get worse if we don’t do anything about it,” she said.