I’m writing this letter in response to the article, Murphy’s Law: Obama’s double standard on nuclear weapons. I believe it’s unfair and wrong to call United States’ stance on nuclear weapons a double standard. Israel is recognized as the only democracy in the Middle East, and has been a close ally and friend to the United States.

Most important, Israel has never showed any intent to use nuclear weapons to harm other countries. Several Iranian officials, including the current president, have made direct threats to wipe countries off the face of the world, including Israel and other U.S. allies.

The standard is not to disarm all countries with nuclear weapons, but to allow responsible members of the international community to have such weapons. If Israel were to publicly threaten nuclear force against another country, the United States would surely step in under this standard.

Evidently, the U.S. is willing to tolerate nuclear weapons in the hands of trustworthy, responsible allies such as Great Britain and France.

Obviously, when it comes to countries with long history of involvement in terrorism, irresponsible policy and extremism, as well as making open and direct threats toward other countries, the U.S. and the world community should not tolerate nuclear abilities in the hands of such countries.

Sincerely,

Maya Kostyanovsky
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
Campus Representative

Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: Opinion Spartans Daily.