nuclear-news

USA ‘s cautious move to reduce nuclear weapons

Pentagon cuts: What will the new US military look like? BBC News, By Heather Hurlburt, Executive Director, National Security Network, 6 Jan 12,“…..The president’s 2009 Prague pledge to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in US strategy, and move toward their elimination, will begin to have practical force.

Stephen Young of the Union of Concerned Scientists describes the future of the nuclear weapons complex as “cautious but suggestive”. The strategy review document maintains a nuclear arsenal but hints at reductions, saying “it is possible our deterrence goals can be achieved with a smaller nuclear force”.

What might this mean in practice? In the near-term, disappointment for those on the US right who have advocated aggressive investment in new nuclear bombs and even a return to testing. In the longer-term, many Pentagon generals, especially those not in submarine, missile or nuclear bomber commands, are willing to consider shrinking the nuclear “triad”.  There is also a raft of influential players in the nuclear sphere who have been eager to retire the weapons…..”   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16433138

January 7, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war