Nuclear weapons must be rejected

Professor Hugh White, emeritus professor of strategic studies at Australian National University, has suggested that Australia might need to consider acquiring nuclear weapons.  He writes in his new book “How to Defend Australia” that, because US influence in our region is waning and Chinese influence is rising, “there are circumstances in which the development of nuclear forces could be justified.” If Australia were to develop nuclear weapons, or even be suspected of thinking about it, should Iraq and/or Iran invade Australia?  The idea is absurd, and yet no more absurd and dangerous than the uncertainties, instabilities, hypocrisies and pretexts for aggression that have already arisen in our world of nuclear haves and have nots.