Securing the Nuclear Threat in a Tight Budgetary Environment
This week marked the twentieth anniversary of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program. The program to help the former Soviet states secure nuclear weapons stockpiles was initiated by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) and former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA) and helped deactivate more than 7,600 nuclear warheads. The program, and its success over two decades, is a demonstration of bipartisan cooperation that has resulted in real progress for American and global security. Today the same bipartisan national security experts say that the next steps in reducing the threat from nuclear weapons involve the U.S. reducing their role in U.S. security strategy – and that such a change would free up resources for other security needs.
The spread of nuclear weapons – especially a weapon in the hands of terrorists – is grave threat to American security. As President Obama outlined at the National Defense University on Monday (December 3), “We simply cannot allow the 21st century to be darkened by the worst weapons of the 20th century. And that’s why, over the past four years, we’ve continued to make critical investments in our threat reduction programs – not just at DOD, but at Energy and at State. In fact, we’ve been increasing funding, and sustaining it. And even as we make some very tough fiscal choices, we’re going to keep investing in these programs – because our national security depends on it. After all, even with all your success – the thousands of missiles destroyed, bombers and submarines eliminated, the warheads that have been deactivated – we’re nowhere near done. Not by a long shot. And you all know this. There’s still much too much material – nuclear, chemical, biological – being stored without enough protection. There are still terrorists and criminal gangs doing everything they can to get their hands on it. And make no mistake, if they get it, they will use it; potentially killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people, perhaps triggering a global crisis. That’s why I continue to believe that nuclear terrorism remains one of the greatest threats to global security. That’s why working to prevent nuclear terrorism is going to remain one of my top national security priorities as long as I have the privilege of being President of the United States.” [Barack Obama, 12/3/12]
Nunn-Lugar’s path breaking success points toward next generation of approaches. The American Security Project explains the background of the CTR: “When the Soviet Union collapsed, a new nuclear security threat was born. Former Soviet Union states Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan inherited massive nuclear arsenals of questionable safety and security. Congress acted quickly to address this threat, passing the Soviet Threat Reduction Act in November 1991. Also called the Nunn-Lugar Act for its authors, Senators Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), the act provided U.S. funding and expertise to former Soviet Union states to secure and dismantle nuclear, chemical, and biological materials, weapons, and delivery systems.”
The successes of the program include: “7,619 strategic nuclear warheads deactivated; 902 intercontinental ballistic missiles destroyed; 33 nuclear submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles destroyed; 2,936 metric tons of Russian and Albanian chemical weapons agent destroyed; 24 nuclear weapons storage sites secured; 39 biological threat monitoring stations built and equipped.” ASP also explains how the Nunn-Lugar program can be used as a model for future programs on a tight budget: “The Cooperative Threat Reduction program’s history of success on a shoe-string budget makes it the ideal tool to address 21st century nuclear security threats.” [ASP, 2012]
The bipartisan, military experts who built Nunn-Lugar now say reducing role of nuclear weapons in U.S. military strategy will make us more secure and conserve resources for other security needs. Terri Lodge of the American Security Project writes, “The growing consensus for a new nuclear strategy includes most former flag officers of STRATCOM, missile commands, and large commands, along with former national security officials. Some of these leaders are Republicans; some are Democrats. They may not agree on many national security issues, but they do agree that the U.S. can maintain a nuclear deterrent with far fewer than the 1,550 warheads allowed under the New START Treaty. The new nuclear consensus includes former STRATCOM Commander General James Cartwright, who chaired a bipartisan commission that recommended a nuclear force of 450 deployed and 450 non-deployed warheads. These military leaders are joined by policymakers like Chairman of the Armed Services Committee Senator Carl Levin, who notes that nuclear weapons are ‘totally useless.’”
As Colin Powell, former national security advisor and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said while he was Secretary of State to George W. Bush: “We have every incentive to reduce the number. These [nuclear weapons] are expensive. They take away from soldier pay. They take away from O[perations] and M[aintenance] investments. They take away from lots of things. There is no incentive to keep more than you believe you need for the security of the Nation.” Rep. Ed Markey and 44 other Representatives recently wrote to Congressional leadership: “Unchecked spending on nuclear weapons threatens to push us over the fiscal cliff. It imperils both our national and economic security. It makes us less safe by preventing investment in the systems that our soldiers need most. It jeopardizes our future by forcing cuts to programs that fund life-saving medical research, train teachers, and ensure seniors and the most vulnerable receive essential healthcare.” [Terri Lodge, 7/16/12. Colin Powell, 7/9/02. Congressional Letter, 12/4/12.]
What We’re Reading
The Pakistani Taliban is preparing for a leadership change that could mean less violence against the state but more attacks against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan.
Iranian oil tankers are sending incorrect satellite signals that confuse global tracking systems and appear to conceal voyages made by other ships to Syria, which, like Iran, is subject to international sanctions.
The Egyptian army deployed tanks and gave both supporters and opponents of Mohammed Morsi a deadline to leave the area outside the presidential palace following fierce street battles that left five people dead and more than 600 injured.
Moscow’s top diplomat will meet jointly with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the United Nations envoy for Syria, a senior State Department official said.
U.S. military planners have begun to help organize a multinational proxy force to intervene next year in Mali, the famine-stricken, coup-wracked African country that has become a magnet for Islamist extremists, U.S. officials said.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti faced a revolt by Silvio Berlusconi’s PDL party, which ratcheted up tension ahead of an election early next year by walking out of a Senate confidence vote.
A spokesman for the Ugandan government says peace talks between the Congolese government and M23 rebels will begin in the Ugandan capital Friday.
A treaty that African nations hope will lead to the fair and humane treatment of people displaced in their own countries went into force, more than three years after it was conceived by the African Union.
A high-ranking Cuban diplomat accused U.S. officials of lying about the case of jailed American contractor Alan Gross and said Havana would not bend to pressure to free Gross immediately.
Thai law enforcement authorities announced that they will file murder charges against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy in the first prosecutions of officials for their roles in a deadly 2010 crackdown on anti-government protests.
Commentary of the Day
Simon Shuster explores the most recent corruption charges in Russia, and explains why there is a sudden increase in the past few years.
Nancy Okail explains that Egyptian President Morsi’s role in inspiring recurring protests.
John Dickerson reveals the secrets of the 2012 presidential campaign.
