Letter from Nigel Barnacle
I wish to comment on the Global Security: Non-Proliferation
inquiry. Please take my views into account.
I would point out that the Non-Proliferation
Treaty has been effective in preventing the spread of nuclear
weapons. However China, France, Russia, UK and US (the P5) are
not honouring their commitments under Article 6 of the NPT.
They continue to modernise their nuclear arsenals and should be
called upon to stop this. The NPT is in danger of collapse if
the P5 do not genuinely begin to disarm. The UK should abandon
plans to renew Trident in order to influence other P5 members
and in order to take a lead in honouring Article 6 commitments.
The UK decision to site its missile defence
interceptors in Poland is to be regretted and opposed and understandably
has produced aggressive responses from Russia. The US is being
overly warlike and aggressive by its actions and should not be
supported by Britain.
The UK should now refuse the US to use the bases
of Fylingdales and Menwith Hill for its missile defence system.
This currently is leading to a new arms race and is against the
spirit of the NPT.
There is also growing evidence of proliferation
in chemical and biological weapons. Britain should have no part
in this.
Israel, India and Pakistan should be urged far
more than at present to sign the NPT. Also the NPT was never intended
for the P5 to keep nuclear weapons forever. Britain should
take far greater steps to disarm its nuclear weapons.
Failure by the P5 and the continuation
by Israel, India and Pakistan to develop its nuclear weapons will
only encourage other countries to develop nuclear weapons and
understandably. This is to be regretted.
5 September 2008
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