OPINION: Mixed messages. Mixed non-proliferation results
By: 6560 Andrew Nelletyn
The Economist Rocket Salad article entitled “India and Pakistan show off their nuclear-capable missiles” comments on recent missile launches by India and Pakistan. The tone of the article suggests that these launches, particularly that of India, may have an advantageous regional impact. That may not necessarily be so. Condoning or remaining silent on these launches may indeed encourage near-proliferators or those who wish to posses a nuclear weapons capability to dismiss calls to cease their nuclear weapons ambitions. India and Pakistan are not members of the NPT and have no intention of signing the treaty. The Observer Research Foundation, a prestigious Indian think-tank, casts the missile launches as a potentially positive development: “…getting closer to mutual deterrence may actually help improve [Indian and Chinese] bilateral relations.” In 2008 the US penned a nuclear material transfer agreement with India although India is not a member of the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) which therefore bans NSG members from nuclear material transactions (civil and military) with India. This provision was waived at the urging of the US. North Korea is admonished by America and the UN for launching a “satellite delivery rocket”; albeit unsuccessfully. Sanctions are imposed on Iran for pursuing a “nuclear weapons” program. Israel, not a NPT member, refuses to abandon nuclear options. Mixed messages. Mixed non-proliferation results. As Lord Palmerston aptly said: “Nations have no permanent friends only permanent interests. Where mutuality of interests abide cooperation and friendship prevail.”
Background: 6560 COLONEL (RET’D) ANDREW NELLESTYN
OStJ CD BEng DIC MA PhD PEng
Colonel Nellestyn hails from London, Ontario. He has enjoyed a distinguished and varied career as a military officer, city counselor, diplomat, professor, senior business executive, Board Director and Chairman, volunteer and archeologist. Colonel Nellestyn is an engineer, nuclear physicist and economist. He has traveled extensively throughout the world. He was born in The Netherlands and came to Canada in 1953 where his family settled in London, Ontario.
Colonel Nellestyn’s contributions earned him the coveted Athlone Fellowship for post-graduate studies in England, the Ontario Professional Engineers Award for Citizenship for his community work, the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire scholarship, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and Honourary Citizenship of Egypt from President Anwar Sadat. He was also an active Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) committee member engaged in the development of engineering and technologist education curricula, private sector/university/PEO liaison and engineering/technologist standards and codes.
In 1965 he graduated from the Royal Military College with First Class Honours then proceeded to London, England where he attended the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine and the London School of Economics. Whilst at Imperial College he was part of the Imperial College/Guy’s Hospital prestigious nuclear medicine research team which designed and commercialized the application of neutron teletherapy for non-invasive radio-treatment of cancer. Dr. Nellestyn was named to WHO’S WHO IN ATOMS in 1972 for his contributions to nuclear reactor design and his work in nuclear medicine.
His military career started in Army Cadets in London, Ontario He has served in England (SAS TA), Germany (vehicle platoon commander, brigade adjutant), Egypt UNEFII (Maintenance Company commander) and Damascus UNDOF (Chief Logistics and Personnel Officer), Lebanon UNIFIL (Ops Staff), Petawawa (SSF CO 2 Svc Bn), Ottawa (National Defence Headquarters as Director Defence Sales Support, senior analyst Directorate of Logistics Analysis and as senior analyst Directorate of Strategic Analysis) and Kingston as Professor (RMC and Queen’s University) and Squadron Commander at RMC. He was also Visiting Professor at McMaster University and the University of Toronto where he lectured in Nuclear Engineering. Dr. Nellestyn also served as one of Prime Minister Trudeau’s National Economic and Energy Advisers. He has advised Canadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade, CIDA, the UN, US DOD, the US State Department and various think-thanks on foreign, economic and global finance policies.
Colonel Nellestyn retired from the Armed Forces in 1985 at the age of 43 and joined the business community. He has served as a senior executive in the capacity of COO, CFO, Executive Vice President Marketing, President, CEO and Board Director and Chairman. Companies for which he worked include the Kanata Enterprise Centre (a business incubator), Corel Corporation, Honeywell, Atomic Energy of Canada, Applied Innovations, Sidus Systems, Moore Systems and Enghouse. He presently has his own company which provides consulting services in business and financial management.
He is a widely acclaimed expert in Middle East and world affairs as well as national and global political, economic and financial systems.
His interests are varied; history, music, art, literature, archeology, anthropology, engine design (Formula 1 1965-68 and LeMans-1967-68), architecture and antiquities. Colonel Nellestyn enjoys cycling, sailing, tennis and gardening.