Nuclear weapons are a liability, not an asset. Not only do they not protect us from current threats like terrorism, but with some 20,000 warheads around the globe, there is enormous risk for accidents or for them to fall into the wrong hands.
President Obama's compelling speech in Prague in April calling for "an end to Cold War thinking" – and the recent initial agreement with Russian President Medvedev on nuclear arsenal reductions – are positive steps toward reducing the nuclear threat.
But we must do more to truly transform U.S. nuclear weapons policy. And, unfortunately, those who are stuck in a Cold War mindset will fight against the necessary changes every step of the way.
The Department of Defense is currently conducting a comprehensive "Nuclear Posture Review," which will determine whether we will have more Cold War thinking or truly transformational change. Urge President Obama to take advantage of this opportunity today to set a new, safer direction for U.S. nuclear weapons policy.
Dear President Obama,
I applaud your strong and visible leadership in reducing the threat posed by nuclear weapons. I was particularly pleased that in Prague you called for "an end to Cold War thinking" and declared "we will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy."
To realize that goal, I urge you to become personally involved in your administration's Nuclear Posture Review to ensure that it makes the needed changes in U.S. policy.
[Your personal comments will be added here.]
First, the review should clarify that the United States maintains nuclear weapons for the sole purpose of deterring the use of nuclear weapons by another country against the United States or its allies.
Second, the United States should remove its weapons from hair-trigger alert, which allows them to be launched within a matter of minutes. This opens the door to devastating accidents, which is simply unacceptable. The United States should make Russia aware of this new policy, and urge it to make similar changes in its policy and practices.
Finally, in the next nuclear reductions agreement with Russia, the United States should seek to limit the total number of nuclear warheads, including those in storage, to 1,000.
