Cut Down On Nukes To Shave the Deficit

Hugh Pickens writes "Joe Cirincione writes in the Atlantic that the US government is set to spend almost $700 billion on nuclear weapons over the next 10 years, roughly as much as it spent on the war in Iraq over the last decade. Most of the money will be spent without any clear guidance on how many weapons we need and for what purpose. As long as nuclear weapons exist, we will need some to deter nuclear threats from others, but do we really need to duplicate the entire nuclear triad for another 50 years? 'The Pentagon budget includes funds to develop a new fleet of 12 nuclear-armed submarines with an estimated cost of $110 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Also planned is $55 billion for 100 new bombers, and a new missile to replace the recently upgraded 450 Minutemen III intercontinental ballistic missiles. ... The consensus among military officials and bipartisan security experts is that nuclear reductions enhance US national security,' writes Cirincione. As the Nuclear Posture Review says, 'Our most pressing security challenge at present is preventing nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism, for which a nuclear force of thousands of weapons has little relevance.'"

Comments

Re:You Need to Think About the Two Outcomes ...

[geek]

Reagan won out the cold war without firing a shot. Jimmy Carter all but left us to the Soviets mercy and pretty much every one elses. Carter wanted to eliminate every single one of our nukes without even having a plan from Russia as to their disarmament. He still wants this. Grow up? You're in fantasy land where communists are nice people, just misunderstood. Never mind the hundred + million they've killed since the 1920's.

The above spending is just to create new nukes. It's to replace older aging ones, as well as create more accurate ones to minimize civilian casualties. It's about bunker busters and targeting systems, upkeep and maintenance.

The only fear monger is you "Oh God we're all gonna die!" Guess what, being well armed is the best means to keep your country safe. Responsible adults know this which is why Jimmy Carter lost in 1980 by epic proportions. But by all means, keep the juvenile fantasy alive that everyone in the world is just misunderstood and America is the great evil because we posses tactical nukes in our own defense.

It makes sense.

[nege]

"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." - Isaac Asimov

If the US can't be the most powerful economically, it will attempt to retain its power through the military.

Re:Slow and steady

[rickb928]

China will not limit themselves to economic weapons.