'No first use' of nuclear weapons goes halfway; aim for no nuclear weapons

If only first use is prohibited, it stands to reason that second or third or fourth use is permitted.

The opposition to nuclear weapons has a new name — “No First Use,” or NFU. The idea, pushed by anti-nuclear and peace activists, is to push for an official government policy not to initiate a nuclear conflict.

This is a welcome development, inasmuch as it continues the activism aroused by TPNW, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, after a long period in which such activism was largely dormant. However, it may be a bit early to celebrate what is sometimes referred to as the end of the nuclear age.

The first proposition in the “too early” column is