nuclear-news

UK’s 20 Billion pound nuclear weapons rebuild is under review

UK considers downgrading nuclear arsenal and scrapping Moscow By TOM PETERKIN Scotsman, 19 May 2012  ARMED forces minister Nick Harvey is conducting a government review exploring whether Britain could downgrade its nuclear arsenal, it was revealed yesterday.

Mr Harvey’s review will consider whether £20 billion plans to rebuild the Trident-based deterrent at Faslane on the Clyde should be replaced with a cheaper, more flexible nuclear option – but one which lacks the same range and firepower.

Mr Harvey, a Liberal Democrat, has refused to speak publicly about his
review, but yesterday his party colleague Menzies Campbell suggested
Lib Dem policy is turning towards abandoning the so-called “Moscow
Criterion” on which UK nuclear weapons policy has been based for the
past four decades.

The Moscow Criterion is the military doctrine which states that the UK
would have the nuclear capability to overwhelm the air defences,
government, military command centre and capital city of Britain’s Cold
War opponent.

Mr Campbell yesterday said the Moscow Criterion had been “undermined”
by the end of the Cold War, arguing: “It is unthinkable today that
Britain would want to use a weapon that would have the effect of
obliterating Moscow, or indeed any other city.

“The idea that we would want to impose casualties to that extent
simply isn’t sensible.”…..
http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/uk-considers-downgrading-nuclear-arsenal-and-scrapping-moscow-criterion-1-2305145

May 19, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war