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Saturday, October 05, 2002
Hesiod notes a suggestion for the addition of a new member to the "Axis of Evil." One of the main points in Murdock's argument is that Brazilian presidential candidate Ignacio da Silva "chillingly hinted on September 13 that Brazil should resume its quest for atomic weapons." Let me make it clear that I don't think the existence of more nuclear-armed countries is a good thing, but da Silva's position does make sense. Latin American countries in particular have to be concerned with their relationship with the 800 lb. gorilla to the north. The US has tremendous economic and military dominance, and its diplomacy has been lately comprised wholly of threats, veiled and direct. With the exception of China and Russia, every other country in the world sees itself as nakedly exposed to our power. Without something like nuclear weapons to give us pause, they'll have to roll over whenever we feel like flexing. Past experience has shown the Brazilians (and Argentinians, Columbians, Bolivians, etc.) that we flex often, and rarely for their benefit. The rest of the world sees us demanding the right to use force wherever and whenever we see fit. Is it any wonder we make them nervous? So long as we continue tromping around the globe in our nuclear-tipped boots, every other country cannot help but see itself as acutely vulnerable. 
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