Scientists praise Obama as Doomsday clock reset

[Prof.]

Good job, Obama. :)
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20100114/capt.photo_1263512128346-2-0.jpg?x=350&y=345&q=85&sig=rA3e5JDAMemrD6uN6LB7vg--

NEW YORK (AFP) – International scientists nudged back the minute hand of the symbolic Doomsday clock Thursday, as they praised President Barack Obama for helping to pull the world back from nuclear or environmental catastrophe.

"It is six minutes to midnight," the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (BAS), which created the Doomsday clock in 1947 as a barometer of how close the world is to an apocalyptic end, said in a statement read out as the clock's countdown to midnight was turned back by one minute.

"For the first time since atomic bombs were dropped in 1945, leaders of nuclear weapons states are cooperating to vastly reduce their arsenals and secure all nuclear bomb-making material," the statement by the panel of international scientists, including 19 Nobel laureates, said.

"For the first time ever, industrialized and developing countries alike are pledging to limit climate-changing gas emissions that could render our planet nearly uninhabitable."

LINK (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100114/ts_afp/usnuclearclimatescience_20100114233754)

[NT1440]

The doomsday clock's long history is fascinating.

Glad to hear there is hope out there for a more peaceful world:)

[NathanMuir]

How does Obama deserve credit for the nuclear aspects? Any US president from the 1970s to the 1980s did far more for the reduction of nuclear arms than Obama could ever hope to do. Hell, even Bush did more in 2002 with SORT.

Edit:
And I'll go ahead and stick this quote in "Not only has Obama initiated new arms reduction talks with Russia, he has started negotiations with Iran to close its nuclear enrichment program, and directed the US government to lead a global effort to secure loose fissile material in four years," Krauss said, reading from the BAS statement."

Note that he hasn't accomplished anything yet. Just like Clinton and W. Bush had their grand schemes for peace in the Middle East that produced nothing, yet.

[Zombie Acorn]

Is everyone afraid?
Is everyone ashamed?
They're running towards their holes to find out
Apocalyptic means are lose among our dead
A message to our friends to get out
There's wages on this fear
Oh so clear
Depends on what you'll pay to hear

They're bound to kill us all in whitewashed halls
Their jackals lick their paws

Please don't stop it's lonely at the top
These lonely days when will they ever stop?
This doomsday clock ticking in my heart
Not broken

I love life every day
In each and every way
Kafka would be proud, to find out
I'm certain of the end
It's the means that has me spooked
It takes an unknown truth to get out
I'm guessing I'm born free, silly me
I was meant to beg from my knees

Please don't stop it's lonely at the top
These lonely days when will they ever stop?
This doomsday clock ticking in my heart
These lonely days when will they ever stop?

We gotta dig in
Gas masks on
Wait in the sunshine, all bug-eyed
If this is living?
Sakes alive!
Well then they can't win
No one survives

Is everyone afraid?
You should be ashamed
Apocalyptic screams mean nothing to the dead
Kissing that 'ol sun to know all there is
Come on, last call
You should want it all

Ah, it's lonely at the top
These lonely days when will they ever stop
This doomsday clock ticking in my heart
These lonely days when will they ever stop
This ticking in my heart
Is everyone afraid?

[IntheNet]

NEW YORK (AFP) – International scientists nudged back the minute hand of the symbolic Doomsday clock Thursday, as they praised President Barack Obama for helping to pull the world back from nuclear or environmental catastrophe.

Praise Obama? What for? Iran and North Korea have become far worse under his stewardship; both nations are now advancing in their nuclear development, Russia is retooling its nuclear arsenal, Pakistan has elements of Al Qaeda threatening its nuclear missile facilities, India is ramping up its nuclear response scenarios in response to threats from Pakistan, and despite this progressive scientists want to give Obama kudos? Like the Nobel prize BHO didn't earn, Obama has done absolutely nothing to address nuclear proliferation. Moreover, with the absolute failure in Copenhagen of the climate agreement, Obama has likewise done absolutely nothing to address the environment. And in terms of Iran's nuclear proliferation and the upcoming meeting between Barry and Mahmood =>

Coming Soon: Obama’s First Big Diplomatic Failure
Grand Rants
http://grandrants.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/coming-soon-obamas-first-big-diplomatic-failure/
Here’s the premise: If you were to bet on the outcome of a “discussion” between a political newbie who has never actually accomplished anything in the area of political negotiation and a seasoned professional who is the first president of the Iranian Islamic Republic not to be a religious cleric in 24 years, served as mayor of Tehran, was the governor general of Ardabil Province, and served in the Iran–Iraq War as a member of Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, who would you put your money on?

[obeygiant]

I would only agree that a symbolic clock is as nourishing to the intellect as photograph of oxygen to a drowning man.

[VenusianSky]

I would only agree that a symbolic clock is as nourishing to the intellect as photograph of oxygen to a drowning man.

That is a good way to put it.

A clock that does not keep time. Not all too reliable.

[mcrain]

Iran and North Korea have become far worse under his stewardship; both nations are now advancing in their nuclear development, Russia is retooling its nuclear arsenal, Pakistan has elements of Al Qaeda threatening its nuclear missile facilities, India is ramping up its nuclear response scenarios in response to threats from Pakistan, and despite this progressive scientists want to give Obama kudos? [/I]


Without getting into my opinions about things, I do have a question. We had 8 years under Clinton where North Korea, Iran, India, Pakistan, Isreal, Turkey and Russia weren't all escalating their arsenals/threatening war/scaring the rest of the world. Then we had 8 years of Bush, Jr.

What changed? Why is the middle east so turbulent now? Why is Russia retooling their military? Why is India ramping up its nuclear response scenarios? I mean, it's not like they would feel a little lonely as the world's largest democracy when it kind of looks like we've taken Pakistan's side.

[NathanMuir]

What changed? Why is the middle east so turbulent now?

Are you implying that the Middle East has ever been stable? Just because you didn't hear about things when Clinton was president doesn't mean that things weren't happening.

Why is Russia retooling their military?

Remember when the price of oil and gas sky rocketed roughly two years ago? Remember how the EU is always scolding Russia for shutting off the gas pipelines that run through the former eastern bloc countries into Europe? Perhaps Russia is spending the hundreds of millions of dollars that its made over the past five plus years of natural gas and oil sales.

Why is India ramping up its nuclear response scenarios? I mean, it's not like they would feel a little lonely as the world's largest democracy when it kind of looks like we've taken Pakistan's side.

Have you looked at much assistance the US gives India? I don't think India is jealous of Pakistan for being forced to let the US in to look for terrorists and being used like a lady of the night who finds a couple of dollars thrown on the night table in the morning.