Alexandra Bell
@atomicbell
In the coming weeks, some people will try to make the case that the 2018 NPR is just a continuation of policy. Don't buy it. It's actually the nuclear priesthood striking back.
The Obama Administration was committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal. At the same time, his Admin relentlessly pursued agreements and endeavors to create conditions that would enable nuclear reductions.
Leaders in the Obama Admin were keenly aware that in the world beset by threats from terrorists, nuclear weapons were becoming less of an asset and more of a liability.
The Trump NPR ignores this reality and treats nonpro, arms control & efforts to combat nuclear terrorism as an afterthought to its main emphasis: a return to "great power" competition with new nukes.
The nuclear priesthood failed twice in their mission to get new nukes during the GWB Admin. They didn't have a prayer in the Obama Admin following the 2010 NPR's clear mandate of no new warheads, capabilities or missions.
Noticing President Trump's penchant for "more, bigger, stronger" & his obsessive need to differentiate himself from his predecessor, the nuclear priesthood found a new acolyte.
They will downplay the troubling aspects of the 2018 NPR, but there should be no doubt that it was their intention to have the Trump plan increase the role and the size of the US nuclear arsenal.
With their guidance, no doubt, the Trump NPR completely ignores the fact that the US has a legal commitment as a party to the NPT to pursue good faith negotiations on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament.
Couple that with President Trump's patronizing reference to magic being the key to nuclear disarmament in the SOTU & you see that Trump's nuclear policy is America first & global efforts to reduce nuclear threats second.
The nuclear priesthood will want Congress to focus on continuity w/previous NPRs. Members should instead keep the focus on what's different in this NPR & why ~4,000 nukes & the world's greatest conventional military is not enough to keep America safe.
Leah McElrath
@leahmcelrath
IMPORTANT thread by an nuclear arms expert on the Trump administration Nuclear Posture Review and the “nuclear priesthood.”
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Who are the “nuclear priesthood”? People in power who contemplate and plan nuclear Armageddon.
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www.nytimes.com/1997/12/14/weekinreview/the-world-nuclear-priesthood-gets-a-new-credo.html
Sarah Kendzior
@sarahkendzior
Replying to @leahmcelrath
It should be noted that Henry Kissinger, a founding member of the nuclear priesthood, is advising the Trump admin and describes a preemptive strike on North Korea as "tempting" and "rational"
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5344473/amp/Kissinger-Nuclear-strike-North-Korea-tempting.html
Leah McElrath
@leahmcelrath
They publicly say it’s “to counter” Russian military, but what’s the end result?
Both US and Russian militaries with larger nuclear arsenals.
The New York Times
@nytimes
The Pentagon envisions bringing nuclear weapons back in play to counter a push by Russia to modernize its forces
t.co/c5qhuTlymY?amp=1
Leah McElrath
Leah McElrath
@leahmcelrath
Putin deploys nuclear-capable missile system with infrastructure for permanent stationing in Kaliningrad
This brings potentially “much of the EU and NATO” within range of Russian nuclear weapons.
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