Inside Obama Administration, a Tug of War Over Nuclear Warheads -- Global Security Newswire
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden in early June blocked a Defense Department bid to revive a defunct program aimed at fielding modern nuclear warheads across the strategic arsenal, according to those familiar with the episode (see GSN, June 24).
Defense Secretary Robert Gates raised the idea of reinstating the controversial Reliable Replacement Warhead effort during a secret "Principals' Committee" meeting convened by the National Security Council, Global Security Newswire has learned.
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My Comment: There has been a need to replace America's nuclear weapons for a long time. But budget delays and "other considerations" have always come into play to make sure that this did not happen .... and now the newest excuse is that if the U.S. modernizes its nuclear deterrent, this would be perceived by the world as a sign that the U.S. is not interested in limiting nuclear proliferation.
I disagree with this point of view. In today's world, North Korea, Iran, China, Russia, India, Pakistan .... these countries only care about their own nuclear weapon systems/programs .... not American nuclear systems. The Russians may have cared what the U.S. was doing 20 years ago .... but that "intensity" of caring has mostly evaporated in today's world. If the U.S. should make the decision to unilaterally disarm .... the other countries would applaud such a move, but still continue with their own programs.
My prediction .... a few years from now the decision will be made to modernize U.S. nuclear forces (budgetary considerations not withstanding). And nuclear proliferation.... this will still continue to be a problem.
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