Why did South Africa embark on a nuclear weapons program in the 70's?
964849
South Africa undertook a nuclear weapons program in the 70s and may have conducted a nuclear test over the Atlantic in 1979, but has since renounced its nuclear program and signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991 after destroying its small nuclear arsenal. It is the only African country to have successfully developed nuclear weapons, and to date is the only country in the world to have voluntarily dismantled its entire nuclear weapons arsenal.\n\nThe only reason why is that it is surrounded by unstable nations and there was a civil unrest brewing. The current government will not really talk about it because it only came into existance in 1994 and does not recognise any time before that.
362038
they lack the number of centrifuges to have at least 90% enriched uranium\n\nthey lack the trigger mechanism for a nuclear device\n\nthey lack the expertise to put it into a delivery system such as a war head.\n\nThe estimated time to do the above is anywhere from 2012 to 2015.  these are major technical hurdles that need to be crossed.
975156
It's about time the government practice what they preach. If they tell others they are not allowed Nuclear weapons then they should do the same. The U.K should set an example to the rest of the Nuclear powers by being the first to completely dis-arm.
603744
And so does the UK and South Africa.\n\nThe good thing is that in the last 50 years no-=one has used them, but that will all change if a lunatic who is not afraid of retaliation gets the bomb.\n\nIran and North Korea come to mind.\n\nWhen you have nothing but an unshakeable belief in your religion or system its easy to start a war.
50146
Probably, because they are clearly developing weapons of mass destruction.  I think a pre-emptive nuclear strike is in order.  Spring 2007.
533503
It's ridiculous that one country would assume it has the right to tell another country not to produce or have the same weapons it has. I don't understand why any of the people concerned are so stupid: I mean, if anyone ever did decide to deploy nuclear weapons, we'd ALL die...
1146964
Fascinating; I had no idea that Aristophanes had anything to do with it.  Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously used the expression in 1987 when she said, "Anyone who thinks the ANC is going to run South Africa is living in cloud cuckoo land."  \n\nThe ANC (African National Congress) was Nelson Mandela's illegal political organisation, considered a terrorist group by the Reagan/Thatcher Administration because of its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation).   The ANC, of course, has dominated South African politics since the fall of apartheid.
167720
"Our resort to the armed struggle in 1960 with the formation of the military wing of the ANC (Umkhonto we Sizwe) was a purely defensive action against the violence of apartheid. The factors which necessitated the armed struggle still exist today. We have no option but to continue. We express the hope that a climate conducive to a negotiated settlement would be created soon, so that there may no longer be the need for the armed struggle." \non  February 11, 1990
146520
It goes against the MAD doctrine, ie, being able to observe nuclear launches.  If the missiles are disguised in lead-lined cargo ships, then, we get no notice of a preemptive strike.  MAD deterred us from nuclear war for 60 years, now MAD is being thrown out the door.
613318
Man, tell me honestly, do you really want Iran to have nuclear weapons. Forget your equality crap and think logically, do you really want Iran, who wants to kill you, to aquire nuclear weaponery??\nAlso, I think you're a bit misinformed since Pakistan has had a nuclear weapon program since the '70s, claimed they had the technology in the early '80s, and it's main supplier was China, NOT the US.
94467
Although they don't advertise it, Israel has had nuclear weapons since the 70's.  Unofficial open source estimates of about 60 or so weapons in their stockpile.
977336
You want to know something interesting?  Reagan first proposed this program but it was CLINTON who ran on a platform of implementing it.  The moment he was elected, he gutted all funding for the program.....which is why we have no real defense against nuclear weapons.  Note that russia and china have been developing these.
1143660
Too late to stop another 'super' power...they've achieved deterrence.....ie, the ability to defend itself through nuclear deterrence.  Since they are not committed to a policy of national suicide, don't look for them to initiate any preemptive strikes.  Their threat is entirely economic, soon they will be taking over the world markets...just watch.
364014
I think we need to act.  An air strike targeting uranium enrichment plants combined with covert operations to discover and destroy any hidden nuclear threats would probably work best.  That would minimize civilian casualties and set the nuclear program back for years.  We could then encourage the people to overthrow the current regimen.
648728
If they only want nuclear energy, why did they hide their program for a decade?  They want a bomb.  It makes them suddenly a big time player.  They want to intimidate the Gulf States and Israel.
740643
why ,they will never use them ,this subject is stupid cant beleive everyone gets sucked into this shit.yes its scary a weirdo half way across the world has nuclear weapons ,the only reason there doing it is to use them as a bargaining chip for aid yet that wont happen .if they let one off in any country other than there own theyed be abliterated in a blink of an eye .dont get sucked in to all the crap they feed us in the media its just to scare the people into submission to give there rights away so the new world order can enslave us ,sounds crazy do the research .
30305
Of course they have, it is a proverb in Middle East, when people want to say something is really full they say it is like Israel Nuke Warehouse.\nIsrael has the most advanced army of the world.\nBut using them for protection is a little funny(Politely saying) idea, imagine if they launch a nuke to Lebonan, all of them will die from radiation.\nIts for power equation and to fear Arabs not for military use.\nIsrael gained enrichment technology many years ago and before that US gave them enriched Uranium and Plotonium they need.