Seventy years after the Cold War began, the world faces an escalating nuclear threat

The first Soviet atomic bomb test, on Aug. 29, 1949, spread political and psychological fallout that has been with us ever since.

The Cold War nuclear arms race ensued, bringing the horrifying possibility of civilization being wiped out in a war. Diplomacy during the Cold War reduced the danger of nukes and later even produced some progress on disarmament and verification systems.

We have brought down nuclear arsenals from their highest levels during the Cold War. But there are still way too many. There are 14,000 nuclear weapons in the world today, according to the Arms Control Association. About 90% are held by the United States and Russia. 

And then there is the never-ending cost of nuclear weapons both in human suffering and money. The recent nuclear missile accident in Russia, which killed at least five, is an example of how dangerous the arms race is.

The alternative of wasting money on nuclear weapons is absurd. The world should aspire to do better. What we have learned after 70 years of the nuclear arms race is that these weapons of mass destruction do not have a purpose.

Every nation would better off in a world free from nuclear weapons.