I’ve been reading a lot of “Watchmen” recently.

Published in 1985, it shows a wild and alternative America, but really, is it so far from the truth?

Coupled with its highly aggressive nature and sizzling narrative, one of the underlying, and indeed memorable traits of “Watchmen” is the high-level paranoia that surrounded America and the world at that time.

Reading the acclaimed comic book again, it really hits home as to how close we all were to destroying ourselves at the height of the Cold War in the mid 80’s. The USSR had amassed a military arsenal and army surpassing that of the United States, dedicating 25% of its GNP, at the expense of investing in civilian sectors and consumer goods.

Undeniably tense times.

Fast forward 25 years and you have a vaguely similar scenario, with recent revelations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting that Iran has the “know-how to produce a nuclear bomb and may have already tested it.” Am I the only one who is filled with fear by this admission from a high level intelligence service?

Throw in a dispute about the US being accused by Iran of abducting one of their scientists during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, and there is a possible sticky situation on the horizon.

It will be very interesting to see what move Iran or indeed, the US makes next in this fascinating grinding down of the old Soviet block. With North Korea dictator Kim Jong-il apparently ready to continue talks involving nuclear disarmament, it looks like we could finally be getting somewhere. However, a spokesperson for the International Center for Strategic Studies in London called the move “very sceptical” adding that he didn’t think that “North Korea wants to give up its nuclear weapons”.

It’s pretty obvious that international relations are tense to say the least.

Recent news has been very military orientated this week, with Barack Obama hosting the United Nations Security Council in New York. Obama’s “quid pro quo” approach doesn’t seem to be working, with many commentators saying that he needs to be more forceful when dealing with Middle Eastern countries.

Nevertheless, in amongst the doom and gloom, Gordon Brown of all people decided that Britain would be scrapping the fourth Trident missile- saving the UK taxpayer billions of dollars over many years. Happy times indeed!

Since the invention of the Atom bomb by that eccentric Jewish scientist with the peculiar hair, we have never known a time where nuclear war has been out of the question.

The 80’s were full of synthesises, keyboards, big hair and the American public suffering for the mistakes of President Nixon in the late 70’s.

Let’s hope we’ve finally learnt from our mistakes.

It’s time for the paranoia to end.