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Milestones

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every country today that desires a N-bomb has access to the science and means to build one (or more). It wasn't the same back then. Don't cloud the discussions with what we know now!
North Korea can't even feed itself. It's industry is backward. But it was able to build bombs. Supposedly Russian technologists were hired (like the Germans the US hired after WWII for the space program) to build rockets. Supposedly also North Korea exported some technology to Pakistan (funded by Quadaffi for an "islamic bomb") so it could match India.
So, you are probably right. Even a place like Zimbabwe could get a bomb if it were willing to pay enough (and able to). There is just too much black market technology and technical expertise around to prevent it.
It is noteworthy though that Iran does not yet have a bomb although it is certainly motivated. But Israel is so worried it is assassinating Iranian scientists and sabotaging Iranian facilities. ("Israel will not be the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East. Nor will it be the second." They have six German-built submarines which are capable of launching nuclear payloads.)
I read somewhere that if it wanted to, Japan (a space power) could get a bomb in "a month". The same is probably true of South Korea. I don't know how long it would take for Persian Gulf states, but it isn't inconceivable.
The trouble with all of this is that it increases the margin for error. The "super duper missile" Trump touted is supersonic and maneuverable. It's development by Russia and China (which motivated the Pentagon) is a direct response to American anti-missile technology (which is a direct response to places like North Korea). Every "advance" like this makes it more imperative to "launch on warning" so your "assets" aren't lost in a first strike. That, like space-based systems, is highly "destabilizing".
There is a book called "The Dead Hand", about a Soviet facility to detect incoming missiles and launch automatically. Apparently Breshnev still wanted some control. There was a hero in charge who, when the system malfunctioned and gave a false alarm, told Moscow that it was a glitch (even though he wasn't sure) and prevented a catastrophe.
Quite apart from who is and who is not an asshole (and I tend to think there are a lot of them), this is one reason to maintain dialogue even in the face of a "pissing match" with someone like Kim Jong-un. All sides have to have confidence that war is not an option, in my humble opinion. Swagger has no place in this arena, just firmness, dialogue, and respect for the vital interests of all sides. Who cares if they spit at you. Talk is cheap. This is an area in which we need grown-ups.
 
Supposedly also North Korea exported some technology to Pakistan (funded by Quadaffi for an "islamic bomb") so it could match India.

How desperate would you need to be to buy nuclear or any other technology from North Korea!
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Led by a third generation tyrant who looks like he was supplied by badguys r us. And that hair! Team America couldn't even send him up! Who'd want to have anything to do with such a weirdo?
Oh, ok
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There was a lot to be said for the days when (male) politicians were expected to wear hats and wigs

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That was the convention of the Whig Party...

I never knew where that name came from. It's from the Scots "whiggamor", which means "cattle driver" and was originally applied to those who wanted to exclude Charles II's brother James from succeeding to the throne because he was Catholic. The US Whig Party borrowed the name from the British one.
 
On this day in 1919, famed racehorse "Man o' War" saw the only defeat of his career, losing to a horse named "Upset." Born in 1917 during the height of WWI, Man o' War became a favorite after easily winning his first race by six lengths, and he went on to win 20 out of 21 career races and set a record that lasted 50 years. When "Big Red," as he was affectionately known, passed away at age 30, his funeral was broadcast on the radio.
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On August 15th 1945, 75 years ago, Japanese emperor Hiro Hito made a four minutes broadcast, announcing the unconditional surrender of Japan. Hence, World War 2 was over.
The broadcast itself was a special event, since for the first time, the Japanese heard the voice of their emperor, who until then, had a god status.
 
On August 1941, Franklin Roosevelt, arriving on the Heavy Cruiser USS Augusta, and Winston Churchill, arriving on the battleship Prince of Wales, met in Placentia Bay, in the Dominion of Newfoundland (not yet a part of Canada).
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On the 14th they issued "The Atlantic Charter" pledging cooperation between their countries.
Point 6 began "After the destruction of Nazi Tyranny ..." clearly placing the U.S. alongside Britain in intending the end of Hitler's regime.
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One milestone that seemed to passing quietly but on this date in 1305 a rather well known Scottish knight by the name of William Wallace met his rather grisly end at the hands of the...erm...English :eek:

74ED430B-7BD1-42D7-BC2F-8EA3F4F94696.jpeg Well, with an attitude like that ... what else could the English have done ?
 
On this date in 1814 Major General Robert Ross (despite his fabulous choice in initials no relation) and together with Rear Admiral George Cockburn together with roughly four thousand soldiers, marines and sailors took control of Washington D.C and proceeded to burn down several government buildings including the Executive Mansion (already referred to as the White House informally and not as a result of said fires).

They would retire shortly afterwards in the face of a storm after some 26 hours, the only foreign army to occupy the US Capital since its recognition as an independent nation.
 
On this date in 1814 Major General Robert Ross (despite his fabulous choice in initials no relation) and together with Rear Admiral George Cockburn together with roughly four thousand soldiers, marines and sailors took control of Washington D.C and proceeded to burn down several government buildings including the Executive Mansion (already referred to as the White House informally and not as a result of said fires).

They would retire shortly afterwards in the face of a storm after some 26 hours, the only foreign army to occupy the US Capital since its recognition as an independent nation.
*&$%#@ Redcoats!!!
 
Cunard's 'Lusitania' began her maiden voyage from Liverpool on 7 September 1907, arriving in New York six days later. On her second westbound crossing, at a speed of 24 knots (27.5 mph) she captured the Blue Riband and became briefly the largest and fastest ship in the world. Today she is remembered primarily for her tragic loss eight years later. :(

This remarkable sequence of photographs, taken from another vessel, shows her passing Fastnet Rock lighthouse in the final stages of an eastbound crossing. Sixteen lifeboats are carried, which dates the pictures to pre-'Titanic' days.

Lusitania Fastnet 1.jpgLusitania Fastnet 2.jpgLusitania Fastnet 3.jpgLusitania Fastnet 4.jpgLusitania Fastnet 5.jpg
 
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