THE NPT IS TOO OLD TO HANDLE THE PERILS OF THE MODERN AGE, IT IS OUTDATED. (Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor, The Logic of a Nuclear-Free Mideast, May 19, 2010, http://www.cfr.org/publication/22153/logic_of_a_nuclearfree_mideast.html) It has been more than forty years since the Nonproliferation Treaty went into effect. What is your impression now of that treaty The treaty was meant to prevent the emergence of new nuclear weapon states, disarm those that had these weapons, and ensure that peaceful nuclear technology was accessible to all. These are commendable goals even if we had to start with some states being nuclear armed and others not. Forty years later we have more nuclear weapon states and a larger number of nuclear warheads, continuous proliferation concerns and inaccessible peaceful nuclear technology. This is truly disappointing, and it is petty to say we expected worse. The treaty is still important. However, it is becoming stale and could become irrelevant if not nurtured with real disarmament measures and greater equity. Cooperation is required if it is to meet the challenges of our time, particularly the emergence of new nuclear states, non-state parties, and the dissemination of technology.
