Posted on 05/12/2009 12:13:47 PM PDT by MattAMiller
Obama's new budget plan includes a little-noted sea change in U.S. nuclear policy, and a step towards his vision of a denuclearized world. It provides no funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead program, created to design a new generation of long-lasting nuclear weapons that don't need to be tested. (The military is worried that a nuclear test moratorium in effect since 1992 might endanger the reliability of an aging US arsenal.) But this spring Obama issued a bold call for a world free of nuclear weapons, and part of that vision entails leading by example. That means halting programs that expand the American nuclear stockpile. For the past two budget years the Democratic Congress has refused to fund the Bush-era program. But Obama's budget kills the National Nuclear Security Administration program once and for all.
"My colleagues just stared at that line," says Joe Cirincione, a longtime nonproliferation expert and president of the Ploughshares Fund. "They had never seen anything like that." Killing the program, he said, was "the first programmatic impact of the new [zero nukes] policy. People have said they want to see more than words, this is the very first action." Here's the relevant language from Obama's budget explaining the thinking behind the move:
In the upcoming year, NNSA will participate in the national debate to lay out a vision for our nation’s nuclear security and non-proliferation goals. This vision is based on the reality that nuclear security is not just about warheads and the size of the stockpile. The vision emphasizes that we must increase our focus on nuclear security and transforming the Cold War nuclear weapons complex into a 21st century national security enterprise. We must ensure our evolving strategic posture places the stewardship of our nuclear arsenal, nonproliferation programs, missile defenses, and the international arms control objectives into one comprehensive strategy that protects the American people and our allies.
One particularly interesting angle here: Obama has overruled his secretary of defense, Robert Gates, who has been pushing for months to maintain the warhead program. Last October, Gates warned that
"[t]o be blunt, there is absolutely no way we can maintain a credible deterrent and reduce the number of weapons in our stockpile without resorting to testing our stockpile or pursuing a modernization program."
But even though "modernization" has now been halted, Obama will almost certainly not resume nuclear testing. So one has to presume Gates is not a happy camper on this score.
It’s not going to happen.
Gates needs to call a press conference, to get on as many TV and radio shows as possible, and to write as many editorials as possible. This news must get past the inevitable LS media blockade.
I wouldn't mind seeing Bush 41, Bush 43, Al Haig, Cheney and several other notable experts in security yelling at the top of their lungs that this traitor is leaving us open to nations that don't like us, covet what we have and aren't squeamish about building weapons.
Don't think that the Russkies and Chinese aren't watching - they are, VERY, VERY closely. Heck, even Iran, Venezuela, the Norks and others are watching. Also watching are those friendly to and/or dependent upon us - they're watching this AND how we are treating Israel.
This anti-American rank amateur is making Carter look like a decent President in comparison, and that takes some REAL effort.
All things considered I’d say it’s time to ramp up our nuclear war program. We’re going to be needing those things sooner rather than later.
Well, on the bright side, Israel has nukes and will use them.
All the more reason why we need missile defense — oh wait, Obama’s cutting back on that too — wouldn’t want the US to actually defend herself now, would we?
I wouldn't mind at all if some disgruntled intelligence (or former intelligence) folks doing a black bag job and recovering the document in question (or at least scanning it). G. Gordo, do you have any extra time on your hands?
Yeah. It will just feel like 40 years.
Gates has become a shill for Obama anyway. I dont think there is anything Obama can do to run him off short of firing him.
Your talking points are the feeder.
Sad you can’t speak with out calling out the lemmings.
He is a muslim operative that has been groomed for this moment and is systematically dismantling this government. They knew that if this bleeding heart nation would not question something as obvious and simple as his middle name, they could do anything.
You idiot.
Baldwin isn't even a libertarian.
Some of the primary targets that get hit will be the large cities. That means mostly libs. Sorry conservatives that live in large cities (Including me.)
He is all part of the same fringe group supported by libertarians. His site and links dovetail into the same
Paul, etc. bunch.
we’re stuck with this clown for 3.5 years more<
He is putting the nation in harm’s way!
We have to just sit back and let him do it?
The Chicago Mob makes Hillary’s FBI files look like child’s play.
Traitorous son of a bitch!!
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