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Part 1 of 3 Parts
With the rise in tensions between the U.S. and Russia, the possibility of global nuclear war increases. Russia has been bragging about the fabulous destructive and unstoppable new nuclear weapons that they are developing. They have also been flying nuclear bombers through other nations airspaces and sailing nuclear submarines through other nations territorial waters.
The next U.S. presidential election is less than eighteen months away. Due to growing concerns about the possible use of nuclear weapons, it is important to know the positions of the candidates with respect to nuclear weapons and nuclear policy. Recently David Keppel offered a list of thirteen questions in the May 13th issue of Nation magazine for presidential candidates regarding nuclear issues. Here are his questions and my comments:
1. Do you support the Trump administration’s $1.2 trillion program to “modernize” US nuclear weapons?
The U.S. is planning on a ten year “modernization” of our nuclear arsenal. The U.S. spends more than the next dozen nations on nuclear weapons. Critics of the modernization plans point out that it may be time to remove Minuteman ICBMs as the third leg of our nuclear triad. With respect to nuclear treaties, the U.S. is not supposed to be developing any new nuclear weapons but questions have been raised about some changes the U.S. wants to make. One big problem with this ambitious spending program is that other countries such as Russia and China may feel that they need to increase their spending on nuclear weapons in order to keep up with us. It would be best for the U.S. to freeze work on nuclear weapons pending further discussions of the need for such ambition modernization.
2. Do you support the concept of “usable” nuclear weapons for “limited” nuclear war?
The term “usable” nuclear weapons refers to what the military calls tactical nuclear weapons. These are small yield nuclear weapons that can be used on a battlefield against troops and armor but would not used against civilian targets. The idea of a “limited” nuclear war would be the deployment of a few tactical nuclear weapons on a specific battlefield. The problem with the use of tactical nuclear weapons is that is could easily lead to escalation into an all-out nuclear war. Tactical nuclear weapons should not be developed or deployed.
3. Do you support the so-called “low yield” Trident nuclear warhead, the W76-2?
The U.S. military says that the W76-2 modernization is just an upgrade of an existing nuclear weapon and not the development of a new weapon. The modernization that is envisioned is the addition of the ability to steer the bomb after it is dropped from the bomber. This means that it is more accurate and that fewer will be required to destroy a particular target. This improved accuracy increases the possibility that the W76-2 may be used in a conflict. This is turn will increase the possibility of escalation into an all-out nuclear war. The W76-2 program should be cancelled.
4. Should the United States declare that it will never be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict?
All nations with nuclear weapons should declare that they will not be the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. This will help to reduce tensions and fears of nuclear war. On the other hand, to be realistic, any nuclear armed nation could launch nuclear warheads at any time regardless of what their stated policy is. The U.S. president can order the launch of nuclear warheads at any time for any reason. This is too much responsibility to be placed in the hands of any one human being.
Please read Part 2