Obama's Irrational Warhead Cuts: Nuclear Gun Control

Investor's Business Daily ^ | February 16, 2012 | IBD staff

[raptor22]

National Security: The commander in chief who once pined for a world without nuclear weapons has decided a world without an American deterrent is a good start, seeking to cut the U.S. arsenal by 80%.

In a world where rogue states with unstable leadership are either in possession of or pursuing nuclear weapons, and with Russia rearming and China emerging as a world military and nuclear superpower, President Obama has ordered the Pentagon to consider cutting U.S. strategic nuclear forces to as few as 300 deployed warheads — below the number believed to be in China's arsenal and far fewer than current Russian strategic weapon stocks.

This latest example of presidential naivete, which makes even Jimmy Carter look like a warmongering hawk, seems based not on geostrategic reality but rather on the wishful thinking that the threat posed is nuclear weapons, not the enemies that possess them.

Pentagon planners have been asked to consider three force levels as part of a Nuclear Posture Review ordered by President Obama last August: a force of 1,100 to 1,000 warheads, a second scenario of between 700 and 800 warheads, and the lowest level of between 300 and 400 warheads.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney believes that even considering such deep strategic cuts is irrational. "No sane military leader," he says, "would condone 300 to 400 warheads for an effective nuclear deterrent strategy," he told Bill Gertz of the Washington Free Beacon.

[Jonty30]

Obviously its about ensuring the US loses the next big war.

He’s cutting military equipment.
He’s cutting military personnel.
He’s now cutting nukes.

[LucianOfSamasota]

This is Obama’s SECOND warheads reduction!!!!

Obama has already reduced deployed warheads by 70% with the New START Treaty. New START was signed on 8 April 2010 in Prague and entered into force on 5 February 2011.

So this new reduction is 80% of the remaining 30%. Reagan taught ‘Peace through strength’; Progressives/Obama practice ‘Peace through capitulation’.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_START

[The_Media_never_lie]

This is just the latest strategic decision against US interests Obama has made. Getting OBL was a pro US tactical decision.

Can anyone name one pro US strategic decision Obama has made?

[DuncanWaring]

“No sane military leader,” he says, “would condone 300 to 400 warheads for an effective nuclear deterrent strategy,”

Therefore, it should be no surprise that The Won is planning it.

[Mouton]

Time for ECONCOM.

[Robe]

Ok lets see ...
On station, USS Ohio Class Boomer + 16 Missiles With 5 Mervs each = 80 Warheads.
Relief underway,USS Ohio Class Boomer + 16 Missiles With 5 Mervs each = 80 Warheads.
( That’s 160 Warshots right there)
Pre-deploy Boat doing work-up at pier side,USS Ohio Class Boomer + 16 Missiles With 5 Mervs each = 80 Warheads. (240 total by Sub Service alone.)
The remaining 60 warheads are to be distributed to Silo Launched Missiles, and the Air Force to fight over..
This is insane

[Robe]

Mervs = MIRVs ... sorry

[hoosierham]

obama is NOT insane or stupid or a fool,he simply HATES America and is doing everything he possibly can to weaken and ultimately destroy this nation and freedom.

Remember that islam means submission.

[JimRed]

Question we’ll never hear at a news conference:

“Mr. President, in 2010 you promised to modernize our nuclear arsenal. Now you have stated that you want to cut it by 80%. Were you lying then, or are you lying now?”

[raptor22]

Ping

[Mariner]

Actually our boomers carry 24 Trident D5 missiles each. Those missile are capable of carrying 12, 100KT warheads apiece. They are currently limited to 3 warheads/missile per START.

72 warheads per boat is the current load.

[LonePalm]

It's worse than you think. We have 14 Ohio-class SSBNs.

Each sub carries up to 24 Trident II D-5 SLBMs with 8 weapons per missile. One boat carries up to 196 warheads.

At any given time a certain percentage of missiles and warheads are undergoing maintenance.

Currently the SSBNs carry about half the strategic weapons in the US arsenal.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Gaffer]

He seeks to bring the US down to the level of nuclearly nascent IRAN. There is no doubt about it. We will soon be gauging the destruction capability of our nuclear weapons in units "Allahton-equivalents".

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[Steve Newton]

This is madness and treason as I have said before. This CANNOT be allowed to happen.