President Obama is in charge of the nukes

[NNN0LHI]

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/10/on_nukes_obama_plans_hands-on_approach.php

Oct 23 2009, 5:00 pm by Marc Ambinder

On Nukes, Obama Plans Hands-On Approach

President Obama plans to take a more active role in preparing America's nuclear weapons strategy, helping to ensure that the final document, due out next year, reflects his priorities, rather than just the institutional views of his government, administration officials said.

Mr. Obama was said to be unhappy when the Defense Department presented to him its decision to remove a long-range missile battery from Poland and a sophisticated radar system from the Czech Republic. Obama had little time to study the issue before the vagaries of the Pentagon's budget procedures forced his hand. Responding to concerns that the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) was being completed without enough input from his staff and from the State Department, Obama has decided to provide guidance directly, and plans to participate in several high-level meetings.

At stake is the future of America's deterrence policy and whether its nuclear weapons stockpile needs to be significantly modified. Obama has called for a move towards "global zero," a world free of nuclear weapons, but has insisted that, so long as countries possess nuclear weapons, America's policy of possessing nukes as a means to deter their use would remain in effect. The NPR will reveal whether the tenor of the deterrent changes. For example, Obama may decide that America would not use nuclear weapons against a state that did not also possess them.

The Defense Department wants the NPR to include new designs for warheads. Earlier this year, Obama zeroed out funding for a so-called "Reliable Replacement Warhead" and has resisted attempts to restore the money.

[elleng]

1. Excellent. He's earning his keep!