“What Price Nuclear Blackmail?” review

by Hugh Beach
Abolition 2000 UK, 2011

This booklet, the ninth in a series of occasional papers on defence and disarmament issued in memory of Frank Blackaby, is essential reading for anyone interested in the case for or against Trident. Its purpose is to examine the statement “we can only deter ……threats [of nuclear blackmail] in future through the continued possession of nuclear weapons”. Beach argues that this is far from being the brass-bound certainty for which it is commonly taken. The precedents do not support it. It is a partial truth at best, and needs to be balanced against the many other factors which will determine the future security of this nation. In his opinion, Trident is a white elephant that is not worth its keep.