Nuclear weapons use more likely in future: US intelligence

[Beetle]

Nuclear weapons use more likely in future: US intelligence

3 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The use of nuclear weapons will grow increasingly likely by 2025, US intelligence predicted Thursday in a report on global trends that forecasts a tense, unstable world shadowed by war.
"The world of the near future will be subject to an increased likelihood of conflict over scarce resources, including food and water, and will be haunted by the persistence of rogue states and terrorist groups with greater access to nuclear weapons," said the report.
"Widening gaps in birth rates and wealth-to-poverty ratios, and the uneven impact of climate change, could further exacerbate tensions," it concludes.
Called "Global Trends 2025 - a Transformed World," the 121-page report was produced by the National Intelligence Council, a body of analysts from across the US intelligence community.
It has good news for some countries. Among its conclusions:
-- A technology to replace oil may be underway or in place by 2025;
-- Multiple financial centers will serve as "shock absorbers" of the world financial system;
-- Global power will be multipolar with the rise of India and China, and the Korean peninsula will be unified in some form.
But the report also says some African and South Asian states may wither away altogether, organized crime could take over at least one state in central Europe; and the spread of nuclear weapons will heighten the risk they will be used.
"The likelihood that nuclear weapons will be used will increase with expanded access to technology and a widening range of options for limited strikes," it said.
The report highlighted the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East where a number of countries are thinking about developing or acquiring technologies that would be useful to make nuclear weapons.
"Over the next 15-20 years, reactions to the decisions Iran makes about its nuclear program could cause a number of regional states to intensify these efforts and consider actively pursuing nuclear weapons," the report said.
"This will add a new and more dangerous dimension to what is likely to be increasing competition for influence within the region," it said.
The report said it was not certain that the kind of deterrent relationships that existed for most of the Cold War would emerge in a nuclear armed Middle East.
Instead, the possession of nuclear weapons may be perceived as "making it safe" to engage in low intensity conflicts, terrorism or even larger conventional attacks, the report said.
"Each such incident between nuclear-armed states, however, would hold the potential for nuclear escalation," it said.
The spread of nuclear capabilities will raise questions about the ability of weak states to safeguard them, it said.
"If the number of nuclear-capable states increases, so will the number of countries potentially willing to provide nuclear assistance to other countries or to terrorists," it said.
"The potential for theft or diversion of nuclear weapons, materials, and technology -- and the potential for unauthorized nuclear use -- also would rise," it said.
The report said terrorism would likely be a factor in 2025 but suggested that Al-Qaeda's "terrorist wave" might be breaking up.
"Al-Qaeda's weaknesses -- unachievable strategic objectives, inability to attract broad-based support, and self-destructive actions -- might cause it to decay sooner than many people think," it said.
"Because history suggests that the global Islamic terrorist movement will outlast Al-Qaeda as a group, strategic counterterrorism efforts will need to focus on how and why a successor terrorist group might evolve during the remaining years of the 'Islamic terrorist wave.'"
The report was vague about the outcome of current conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and nuclear armed Pakistan.
In 2025, the government in Baghdad could still be "an object of competition" among various factions seeking foreign aid or pride of place.
Afghanistan "may still evince significant patterns of tribal competition and conflict."
"The future of Pakistan is a wildcard in considering the trajectory of neighboring Afghanistan," it said.

[Beetle]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...bF3Xej-tupXchw

Got this from AFP (I think it is a french thing)

[Ryan Ruck]

I said I thought Russia would be the first with China a close second. I think that Israel, whether we are helping or not, is going to handle Iran if they keep pushing buttons. Pakistan has had nukes for a while and I don't think they are likely to use them.

Terrorists using a weapon is always a concern but I honestly rank them as a less likely threat than Russia or China for use of an actual nuclear weapon. A caveat to that is unless they are given any by Russia or China.

[Beetle]

Say Ryan,

I voted terrorist. I subscribe to this therory (at the moment):

For over sixteen years, Osama bin Laden has been planning his "American Hiroshima" where he blows up ten or more American cities with nuclear bombs. Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama's second in command, has warned of "horrific attacks" against American cities. Hans Blix, the former U.N. Weapons Inspector, reported in 2004 that Osama has acquired twenty suitcase nuclear bombs from Chechen rebels in the former Soviet Union. This is also verified by U.S., British, Russian, Israeli, Pakistani, and Saudi Intelligence, and has been reported by the London Times and the BBC.

http://www.afcpr.org/

I think the commies in Russia would 'accidently' lose weapons and they would rather have those that 'found' the weapons be the ones to use them first. I think China would be less likely to do this. But since they have our industry might and most all of our secrets, we may no longer be of use to them...

[American Patriot]

I also think terrorist will use them first.

Then we will retaliate (because they won't use them on Russia) then Russia and China will use them on us.... and so it goes.

I probably won't be around to say "I told you so"....

[Beetle]

I think we should retailiate on Russia, since they 'lost' the suitcase nukes.

[samizdat]

You left out the top 2 candidates. Israel could reengineer globalization with a duffel bag in the Kremlin.

Of course, I aint sure but I tend to believe Red China recently nuked itself into earthquake pandemonium, but N. Korea might try the same trick.

[Beetle]

That is true Sam, NK could be a problem. I dont think Israel is would be the first to use nukes. I do think they would be more apt to retaliate after Iran strikes them.