First Paragraph
The bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki created a nuclear cloud that has hovered over the citizens of all nations since World War II. The threat of a nuclear holocaust peaked in October 1967 during the Cuban Missile Crisis when a nuclear war between the United States (U.S.) and the former Soviet Union (hereinafter the Commonwealth of Independent States) seemed imminent. However, a combination of strategic planning and compromise by the superpowers prevented this disaster and laid the foundation for future arms control limitations. Although a continuing nemesis to'the international community, the threat of nuclear destruction has lessened considerably since 1967 and has ceased to create front page headlines. However, within the past two years, during a time in which the United States and the Commonwealth of Independent States have made significant reductions in their nuclear arsenals, the threat of nuclear war once again made headline news. On August 2, 1990, under the leadership of President Saddam Hussein, Iraq invaded, occupied, and annexed neighboring Kuwait. This action served not only to exacerbate regional instability, but also forced the United States and the rest of the world to recognize and confront the threat of nuclear proliferation in Iraq.
Recommended Citation
Michele E. Martin, The Changing Role of the United Nations: Halting Nuclear Proliferation in Iraq, 10 Penn St. Int'l L. Rev. 485 (1992).