As the Democratic National Convention continues this week in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Obama Administration and the Democratic Party have reasserted their intent to move towards a world free of nuclear weapons. The Democratic Party Platform released Monday states, “[we] believe we must address the threat that nuclear weapons pose to our security and to peace in the world.” It then adds, “President Obama and the Democratic Party are committed to preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons and to eventually ridding the planet of these catastrophic weapons.” Also outlined in the platform are the party’s stances toward Iran, Russia, North Korea, securing loose nuclear materials, reducing nuclear weapons stockpiles and warheads, and preventing nuclear proliferation.
Cold comfort – And a few more thoughts on extended deterrence
The problem with relying on tactical nuclear weapons as tools of extended deterrence is that they are archaic arms that serve no demonstrable military purpose, and their growing financial and opportunity costs outweigh any assurance benefit. In the event of a nuclear attack against an ally, the presence of these weapons on their territory will not increase the likelihood of a US nuclear response. In so far as nuclear weapons play a role in assuring allies, US strategic nuclear forces do the heavy-lifting.
Nuclear Weapons: It Is Important to Continue Drawing Down
Note: A version of this op-ed was published in the Fall 2012 – ELECTION EDITION of VETERANS’ VISION (www.theveteransvision.com.) There are many serious anxieties in today’s world: a war in Afghanistan that has drifted into its second decade, a serious debt crisis facing the United States and many other countries, climate change, the threat of […]
Hodgepodge: New Info on CMRR/UPF, US tac nukes in Europe, and Chinese nuclear modernization
As I’ve written previously, combing responses to questions for the record (QFRs) from Members of Congress after Congressional hearings can reveal all sorts of interesting information, assuming they’re made available by the Government Printing Office or Steve Aftergood over at the Federation of American Scientists manages to get his hands on a copy and share it with the world.
2012 RNC Platform on Nuclear Weapons and Missile Defense
The National Security Network’s superstar leader Heather Hurlburt has already thoroughly dissected the national security section, and while portions of it are surprisingly reasonable, much of it is unsurprisingly ridiculous. The platform’s discussion of nuclear weapons and missile defense falls under the “ridiculous” category. The Kyl/Turner wing of the GOP appears to have co-opted the RNC on these issues.
