The continuing war in Iran underlines the great danger of nuclear which we all now face.
In the last 12 months 5 of the 9 countries that possess nuclear weapons have been engaged in active warfare. Russia has continued its invasion of Ukraine and continued its explicit threats to use nuclear weapons. The U.S. and Israel have attacked Iran twice, and President Donald Trump has issued thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons there. India and Pakistan, both with substantial nuclear arsenals, fought a war with each other.
At this dangerous moment, it is clear that we need a fundamental change in nuclear policy. We have dodged too many bullets to continue believing that deterrence will keep us safe. If we allow nuclear weapons to continue to exist it is only a matter of time until they are used with catastrophic effects.
Senator Markey and Congressman McGovern have introduced resolution in Congress (S. Res. 323 in the Senate and H. Res 317 in the House) outlining a new approach that recognizes the need to eliminate these weapons and calls for the U.S. to make an active effort to achieve that goal. Nine of the 11 members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation have now signed on to these resolutions.
The Back from the Brink campaign (www.PreventNuclearWar.org) hopes that Congressmen Moulton and Auchincloss will join their colleagues in sponsoring these resolutions.
Ira Helfand
Leeds