A SANE US NUCLEAR WEAPONS POLICY

by US Scientists, Physicians, Weapons Experts - May, 2003

To: Interested Persons

Attached is a recent report "Toward Nuclear Sanity; A Response to 'Differentiation and Defense: An Agenda for the Nuclear Weapons Program.'" It was written by Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, Arms Control Association, British American Security Information Council, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Peace Action Education Fund, Physicians for Social Responsibility, 20/20 Vision, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Women’s Action for New Direction.

The House Policy Committee recently published a proposal for U.S. nuclear policy, entitled, “Differentiation and Defense: An Agenda for the Nuclear Weapons Program” (February 2003). On the whole, that report proposed a dangerous, aggressive and counterproductive policy that would increase the likelihood of nuclear proliferation while doing little to increase U.S. security. (Note that, despite its non-partisan name, the House Policy Committee is a Republican Party organization.)

"Toward Nuclear Sanity" provides a response to key proposals and concepts in Differentiation and Defense. Some sections, on Homeland Defense and Preventing Proliferation, are largely non-controversial and not included here, but most sections get detailed responses.

"Toward Nuclear Sanity" does not provide a comprehensive proposal for U.S. nuclear policy, but that policy should undoubtedly include:

  • As a priority U.S. goal, a clear commitment to and work toward the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, including bringing all the current nuclear armed states into a nuclear disarmament regime.
  • An expanded program to reduce the likelihood of nuclear weapons and materials falling into terrorist hands, focused on bolstering efforts to account for, control and reduce those weapons and materials.
  • A rejection of rapid-launch options, changing deployment policies to supply survivable launch options within hours and days rather than minutes.
  • A commitment to the indefinite extension of the current nuclear testing moratorium and to implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

The report is also posted at http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/wilson_final.pdf

David Culp, Legislative Representative
Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers)
245 Second Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002-5795
Tel: (202) 547-6000, ext. 146
Toll free: (800) 630-1330, ext. 146
Fax: (202) 547-6019
email: david@fcnl.org
Web: www.fcnl.org

   

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