Smarter US modernization, without new nuclear weapons. (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Weber, Andrew; Parthemore, Christine
• Is Part Of: Bulletin of the atomic scientists. Volume 75:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 29
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Nuclear weapons -- modernization -- cruise missiles -- arms control -- Nuclear Posture Review; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear energy -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Nuclear energy -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Nuclear weapons -- Periodicals; Nuclear weapons -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Nuclear arms control -- Periodicals; 363.1799
• DOI: 10.1080/00963402.2019.1555993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0096-3402

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The current US nuclear modernization program departs in several major ways from longstanding US nuclear policy: It elevates the role of nuclear weapons in US national security strategy, includes plans for developing several new nuclear weapon capabilities, and resurrects former nuclear capabilities that past US presidents had wisely eliminated. Of all the Trump administration's nuclear modernization plans, however, the most destabilizing are probably the new, low-yield nuclear options and dual-capable systems that may be ambiguously nuclear or conventional. But the United States can still return to a smarter path – one that eliminates these specific nuclear weapons plans, and adopts a more measured nuclear rhetoric to match.