Calling All Contractors: Air Force in the Market for New Bombs

Air Force moves ahead with new nuclear weapons - “Advancing what could become a near-total rebuild of the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal, the Air Force on Friday solicited industry proposals to build a new fleet of land-based nuclear missiles as well as replacements for its air-launched nuclear cruise missile force. The two projects are part of a broader modernization of the nuclear arsenal expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars over 30 years,” writes Robert Burns for the AP.

--“Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the broad rebuild of the nuclear arsenal is financially unsustainable. ‘The Air Force could save billions by refurbishing and extending the life of the existing Minuteman 3 well beyond 2030 rather than building a completely new and more deadly missile,’ he said, adding: ‘The Air Force does not need a costly new and more capable nuclear-armed cruise missile, especially if the new long-range penetrating bomber is truly penetrating. We are seeing a return to the days of nuclear excess and overkill.’” Full article here. http://wapo.st/2ax3Meg

New nuclear bombs in development- “The National Nuclear Security Administration has authorized the B61-12 warhead life-extension program to enter the production-engineering phase. The decision marks the final development phase prior to actual production. The NNSA says the first production unit of the weapon is planned for fiscal year 2020,” writes Aaron Mehta for Defense News.

--“The announcement marks another major step in the Obama administration’s overarching plan to modernize the nuclear force, which Pentagon officials have warned could cost $350-$450 billion over the next decade… It also comes at a time when members of Congress have begun raising serious questions about the modernization plan, in particular over the need for the LRSO.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/2aPvgNZ

First use is useless - “Most Americans will be surprised to learn that current U.S. policy allows the first use of nuclear weapons and horrified that we would even consider it. Given our vast advantage in conventional weapons and the devastating consequences of nuclear war for both the United States and its allies, using nuclear weapons first would be a military and diplomatic blunder of historic proportions,” writes Tom Collina for The National Interest.

--“Nukes are just different, and rightly so. No other weapons can kill so many, so fast. They need to be put in a class all by themselves… Keeping the option open, just in case, is no longer worth the risk. The possibility of U.S. first use ‘exacerbates mutual fears of surprise attack, putting pressure on other nuclear-armed states to keep their arsenals on high-alert and increasing the risk of unintended nuclear war,’ ten U.S. senators wrote to President Obama recently, including former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass).” Full piece here. http://bit.ly/2aKhcaI

Tweet - @StephenUCS: Why Japan can accept a US Declaration of "No First Use" of nuclear weapons http://bit.ly/2aNrEiZ

Twitter fingers on the nuclear trigger - “Trump’s fingers on the nuclear button is such a frightening prospect that it is coming up with greater frequency… Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said last Thursday, ‘A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.’ Even Trump’s ‘Art of the Deal’ ghostwriter Tony Schwartz told Jane Mayer of the New Yorker magazine, ‘I genuinely believe that if Trump wins and gets the nuclear codes there is an excellent possibility it will lead to the end of civilization,’” writes Jonathan Capehart for The Washington Post.

--“That might sound a bit hyperbolic or even laughable. But I’m taking Schwartz’s assertion seriously after talking to Malcolm Nance, a counterterrorism and intelligence consultant… ‘The president has almost 100 percent control over the launch of nuclear weapons in any circumstance and under any condition he so chooses,’ Nance told me in Philadelphia last week. ‘He needs to consult no one and can, if mad with power, personal vendetta or feeling national rage, launch an attack that the Constitution and his staffers cannot control.’” Full piece here. http://wapo.st/2aCYrEx

Tweet - @Cirincione: “Use of [nuclear] weapons can never be justified…simply no possibility of squaring them with just-war principles” http://bit.ly/2aKtsaQ

Quick Hits:

--“Pacific nuclear vets welcome admission testing was detrimental,” by Radio New Zealand. http://bit.ly/2afdPZw

--“Hiroshima, Nagasaki to cite Obama’s speech for peace declaration,” by Jiji Press. http://bit.ly/2aNe3YZ

--“Nuclear weapons: Rising in defence of humanity,” by Vincent Bernard and Ellen Policinski for the International Review of the Red Cross. http://bit.ly/2a2eKMM

--“US Air Force Tried Turning Lethal Nuclear Rockets Into Cluster Bombs,” by Joseph Trevithick for The National Interest. http://bit.ly/2atJAd7

Events:

--“Vincent Intondi, Montgomery College, book presentation on African Americans Against the Bomb. August 2 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Potters House, 1658 Columbia Road NW, Washington. RSVP online. http://bit.ly/2a8DT4t

--"Bike Around the Bomb," by Global Zero. August 6 at 10:00 a.m. at Lafayette Square, Washington. http://bit.ly/29nDRaF

--“Tri-Valley CAREs, Action at Livermore to commemorate the atomic bombings. August 9 at 8:00 a.m., Vasco Road and Patterson Pass Road, Livermore, CA. http://bit.ly/2at9eBh