Former Senator Chuck Hagel’s (R–NE) responses regarding his stance on the future of the U.S. nuclear deterrent were misleading. Hagel stated during his confirmation hearing yesterday that his position has never been “unilateral disarmament ever, never.” He said that he doesn’t agree with “any recommendation that would unilaterally take any …
Recently, Time magazine covered the aging status of the U.S. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The article shone a spotlight on the problem of the deteriorating U.S. nuclear deterrent. The United States is the only nuclear power that does not have a nuclear modernization program. The U.S. approach to …
Former Senator Chuck Hagel (R–NE) will begin his nomination hearings before the U.S. Senate today. The Associated Press reported that if the Senate approves him, he will be the first Secretary of Defense to have publicly advocated that the U.S. get rid of its nuclear weapons, possibly even unilaterally. In …
On November 27, a State Department advisory board, the International Security Advisory Board (ISAB), recommended that the Obama Administration ignore the Constitution and break the law to unilaterally reduce the number of nuclear arms in the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Set aside the fact that such unilateral arms control measures would …
Fifty years ago, the world came to the brink of nuclear war. On October 14, 1962, U.S. policymakers learned that the Soviet Union was building missile bases in Cuba, which would have allowed Moscow to attack anywhere in the continental United States within minutes. An international crisis followed, and while …
The Global Zero Nuclear Policy Commission Report, endorsed by retired Marine Corps General James Cartwright, is calling for dramatic reductions in the number of U.S. nuclear weapons. Since its publication in May, it has stirred discussions about perceptions of today’s strategic environment and competing visions regarding U.S. strategic posture. Mark …
The House of Representatives has taken one step toward preventing the deterioration of America’s nuclear forces. It approved an amendment to the defense appropriations bill for fiscal year 2013 last Thursday that would prohibit the Obama Administration from using the funds provided in the bill to reduce the nuclear forces …
General Robert Kehler, the current commander of the Strategic Command, offered only tepid support for the existing U.S. nuclear triad during a July 12 speech on Capitol Hill. General Kehler said that the traditional U.S. nuclear triad—comprised of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bomber aircraft—remains …
After President Obama released his fiscal year 2013 budget, it became clear that the Administration reneged on its promise to fully fund the needs of the U.S. nuclear complex to the Senate pursuant to its advice and consent to the New Strategic Arms Control Treaty (New START). Thankfully, though, some …
