Britain and the Nuclear Bombs

Priestley, J. B., New Statesman (1996)

New Statesman

2 November 1957

One "ultimate weapon", the final deterrent, succeeds another. After the nuclear bombs, the intercontinental rockets; and after the rockets, the guided-missile nuclear submarine. But all this is to the good we are told, because no men in their right minds would let loose such powers of destruction. Here is the realistic view. Any criticism of it is presumed to be based on wild idealism. But surely it is the wildest idealism to assume that men will always behave reasonably and in line with their best interests?

Why should it be assumed that men who create and control such monstrous devices are in their right minds? They live in an unhealthy mental climate, an atmosphere dangerous to sanity. They are responsible to no large body of ordinary sensible men and women, who pay for these …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Britain and the Nuclear Bombs. Contributors: Priestley, J. B. - Author. Magazine title: New Statesman (1996). Volume: 136. Issue: 4831 Publication date: February 12, 2007. Page number: 62. © Not available. COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.