Author(s): Butler, Richard

Non-Fiction

Written prior to the events of September 11th in New York, and now fully updated to examine the implications of these attacks, this is a timely and important examination of the status of the world's nuclear weapon policies. The terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001 has highlighted the need to eliminate once and for all the threat posed by nuclear weapons, and has also starkly exposed the illusion of missile defense. In Fatal Choice, Richard Butler, a well-known and respected voice on the subject of nuclear weapons, argues that we continue to face a choice with respect to nuclear weapons - either to move safely towards their elimination or to remain their victim. A 40-year effort to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons is breaking down, and the likelihood that terrorists will acquire these weapons is growing. The revival by the Bush administration of missile defense, and the build-up of nuclear weapons by India, Pakistan, Iraq and North Korea will not deal with the problem but worsen it. Richard Butler's timely and important book outlines the steps that need to be taken to give effect to the right choice on nuclear weapons. A former Australian ambassador to the United States, Richard Butler headed the UN Special Commission to disarm Iraq between 1997 and 1999. He is currently Diplomat in Residence at the Council of Foreign Relations. He is the author of Saddam Defiant and lives in New York City. Paperback