Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

The United States of America is, in many ways, much like a polyandrous woman. The U.S. has many relationships with her fellow countries (or for the sake of argument "husbands" wink . Also, like any good woman, the U.S. has specific ways of dealing with her men. Each man/country has a different personality, reputation, etc. that has to be dealt with carefully; otherwise the harmony of the household falls to pieces. Also, she has to be incredibly selective about the power she grants to each man/country. This is called her "foreign policy." One of the main factors of foreign policy is who is allowed to possess nuclear weapons. For example, Russia and North Korea are some of the U.S.'s most well-known men/husbands/foreign advocates. There are very different views of whether or not Russia and North Korea are allowed to have nuclear weapons.
First North Korea, the little badass of a country. North Korea has not always been on friendly terms with the U.S. or her little friends. North Korea likes to seem powerful and in charge (this may be due to an inferiority complex as many countries are much larger than North Korea). Because North Korea is such an explosive little firecracker, it is obvious that the U.S. is going to use her awesome powers of perception and not allot North Korea the right to horde nuclear weapons. North Korea has a long standing history with not being able to show responsibility and flouting the rules. Even after being confronted by Assistant Secretary Kelly in October of 2002, North Korea is rumored to be moving forward, if not amping up, with it's advances in a nuclear weapons program within the country. This is a clear violation of the Agreed Framework of 1994 and its compliance with the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which lowers North Korea's standing with the U.S. North Korea even went so far as to break the seals on its nuclear reactor, put in place by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This caused the immediate expulsion of North Korea from the NPT and IAEA ("North Korea and Nuclear Weapons" wink .
This obviously upset the U.S., and she was angered more so when North Korea kept proving to be a pain in the butt. Although North Korea is sneaky and does most of his shady dealings behind closed doors, the National Security Archive has planned to release a number of Electronic Briefing Books on U.S. feelings and attitudes toward North Korea. The U.S. doesn't like to talk about North Korea much, and that is why there is an obvious lack of information on her policies regarding nuclear weapons and North Korea ("North Korea and Nuclear Weapons" wink . However, as more and more information is leaked to the press and all of the ravenous fans, a clear picture is coming into focus: the United States does not allow North Korea to have nuclear weapons because of his volatile attitude and brash rationale.
Russia, on the other hand, is very close to the U.S.'s heart. Russia has not had a perfect past, just like North Korea. In late 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, leaving behind over 27,000 nuclear weapons on several territories of former Soviet republics. Though Russia has been responsible and disposed of most of these nuclear weapons, he still possesses 6,000 strategic and 12,000 non-strategic warheads. This has raised the U.S.'s perfectly trim little eyebrows: could these nuclear weapons potentially harm herself or her husbands/fellow countries? The main issue that has arisen is that financial constraints within Russia's nuclear command and control structure. As a result of these financial issues, Russia has had a hard time keeping the technology that watches these warheads up to date and may be unable to recognize a potential attack. It is even possible for a benign event to be misinterpreted as an attack and thus retaliated upon ("Nuclear Weapons in Russia" wink . The U.S. wants to trust that Russia will protect her. Russia is big and intimidating, but if he is getting to old to keep up with technology, then anyone might be able to trick the system!
Some of the U.S.'s husbands/allies have expressed concerns that because many of Russia's nuclear weapons are in storage somewhere that they may not be watched as closely as they should, and thefts may occur. Press reports and Russia's own concern have added to this little tidbit, but General Hubert Habiger, former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Strategic Command, has debunked these fears after a visit to several of Russia's storage units in October 1997 and June 1998. In addition, reports that Russian nuclear weapons are being sold on the black market have cropped up, but they not be confirmed ("Nuclear Weapons in Russia" wink . This has relieved many spectators, but many are eager to discredit Russia.
The United States and Russia are working together through communication, trust, and negotiation to improve the safety, security, and control over Russia's nuclear weapons and materials. The U.S. has given money to Russia to aid in these advances ($2 billion). It has been suggested that both the U.S. and Russia do more to reduce their stockpiles of warheads, but because Russia is not volatile or explosive in temperament little has been done ("Nuclear Weapons in Russia" wink . Russia has been cooperative and willing to help in terms of nuclear weapons, and the U.S. has let him keep his nuclear weapons as a reward for behaving himself.
It's all pretty simple, in fact, just like a human relationship (whether monogamous, polyandrous, or polygamous). When both sides of the relationship communicate well, cooperate, and listen to what the other has to say, then harmony and rewards abound (i.e. the U.S. allows Russia to keep his nuclear weapons to play with as long as he doesn't hurt anyone or make more). However, when one side is shady, underhanded, uncooperative, and distant, his or her partner must put the kibosh on his or her ego by revoking rights and rewards given to others (i.e. the U.S. took all of North Korea's nuclear weapons and has threatened many penalties if he makes more). The moral of the story is if one will communicate and cooperate then one will have a healthy relationship!