Next President Faces Nuclear Budget Crunch

The looming nuclear crunch - U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter’s speech Monday in his first visit to Minot Air Force Base “coincides with a growing realization among defense officials and experts that budget constraints almost certainly will force the next president to decide whether and how quickly to proceed with the Obama administration's plans to maintain and modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal,” writes Yeganeh Torbati for Reuters.

--“The next administration could abandon or delay some aspects of modernization to cut costs. Or it could raise taxes, increase the budget deficit, or cut domestic programs, all unpopular steps with American voters. The most vulnerable elements of the modernization plans are a long-range standoff weapon, or LRSO… and new land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).” Full article here. http://reut.rs/2d26wHj

Secretary Carter is silent on nukes - “As defense secretary to a president who famously envisioned ‘a world without nuclear weapons,’ Ash Carter has said remarkably little about them. He has been quiet on a range of nuclear issues, including the Pentagon's $8 billion effort to correct an array of morale, training, discipline and resource problems in the Air Force nuclear missile corps… Nor has he publicly explained in detail the utility of nuclear weapons in an age of attacks by non-state actors like the Islamic State to build support for spending hundreds of billions on a new generation of them,” writes Robert Burns for The Associated Press.

--“‘Secretary Carter has not said much on nuclear weapons, but his actions speak volumes,’ says Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund… ‘He has been the Dr. No of nuclear reductions, defending every program contract and resisting every cut in the nuclear force.’” Full story here. http://bit.ly/2dzAsce

See also - “US Air Force Set to Replace Intercontinental Nuke Arsenal,” by Thomas Watkins for Agence France Presse. http://bit.ly/2cUXsRe

Tweet - @ArmsControlNow: On this date 25 yrs ago: George H. W. Bush's "Presidential Nuclear Initiatives (PNIs) on Tactical Nuclear Weapons" http://bit.ly/2cyyNP4

A new Cold War? - “President Obama’s nuclear strategy states that while the threat of all-out nuclear war is remote the risk of a nuclear attack somewhere in the world has actually increased. When that was written three years ago the risk came from a rogue nation like North Korea… But in this new Cold War the use of a nuclear weapon is not as unlikely to occur as you might think.” Watch the full report by David Martin for 60 Minutes here. http://cbsn.ws/2dkRrAp

UN urges adoption of CTBT - “With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry invoking North Korea’s latest nuclear explosion as a ‘reckless act of provocation,’ the U.N. Security Council on Friday approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of such weapons. Kerry said universal adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would result in a ‘safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet,’ as the United States and 18 other council members approved the resolution, with none opposed and Egypt abstaining,” writes George Jahn for The Associated Press.

--“Security Council approval comes as the Comprehensive Test Ban Organization set up to administer the treaty marks its 20th anniversary. CTBO chief Lassina Zerbo welcomed the vote, telling The Associated Press that ‘it will remind the international community… that we have to finish what we started 20 years ago’... The Washington-based Arms Control Association called it ‘a very important reaffirmation of the global taboo against nuclear weapon test explosions and strong call for ratification’ by key nations.’” Full piece here. http://wapo.st/2d6MrLZ

Tweet - @CSIS: 20 years after the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), where does it stand today? http://bit.ly/2dzB1CY

Nuclear weapons at the debate - At Monday’s Presidential debate, moderator Lester Holt raised the issue of nuclear weapons: “We're on the subject of securing America. On nuclear war, President Obama considered changing the policy on first use. Do you support that?” Watch the candidates respond here. http://abcn.ws/2dgTAYv

Tweet - @Plough_shares: Candidates agree, #nuclear weapons "single greatest threat" / "number one threat" we face #debate #EliminateNukes #NoFirstUse #NewArmsRace

Quick Hits:

--“Nuclear Instability in Northeast Asia,” a talk moderated by Julian Borger of The Guardian with Suzanne DiMaggio and Mark Fitzpatrick for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. http://bit.ly/2dgZxrM

--“After $1 billion is spent to address nuclear scandals, Defense secretary says there's more to be done,” by W.J. Hennigan for the Los Angeles Times. http://lat.ms/2cAglux

Events:

--“Redefining the U.S. Agenda for Nuclear Disarmament,” with Lewis Dunn, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. September 29 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington. http://bit.ly/2cZaF9c

--“Reykjavik and arms control in U.S.-Soviet/Russian relations,” a panel discussion on October 4 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington. http://brook.gs/2deCUkj