[ExI] The Doomsday Clock

BillK pharos at gmail.com
Fri Jan 27 19:26:20 UTC 2017


On 27 January 2017 at 18:54, Adrian Tymes  wrote:
> Yes, he is.  A lot of senior scientists who study this sort of thing
> professionally have decided that Trump being the US President, with his
> demonstrated temper, is that much of a risk factor for nuclear war.
>

Well, sort of....  the Doomsday Clock now tries to include all
existential threats, not just nuclear war. For several years it has
been the threat of climate change that has moved the clock nearer to
midnight. And the Donald not believing in climate change has factored
in another move. (Though he might change his mind on this with a bit
more experience dealing with all the affected cities). Whether his
temper is a risk factor for nuclear war works both ways. If foreign
nuclear powers think he is reckless, then they are more likely to be
extra cautious not to upset him too much. Very different to them
dealing with careful, cautious leaders who would only use nuclear
weapons as a desperate last measure. Thus with them they would expect
to get away with much more (like claiming the whole South China Sea
resources) than with Donald.

BillK



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