Instead, to justify its existence and its sixty-five year burden on taxpayers, NATO and its senior American partner flirt with friendly non-member states like Israel in "partnerships for peace." They maintain F-16s in the skies over the Baltic States at Russia's doorstep. They hem and haw over ballistic missile defense programs (aimed at Iran) that cause considerable Russian concern. They taunt the Russians with the prospect of Ukrainian and Georgian membership in NATO. And they justify Russian nuclear modernization programs--rather than negotiate away the need for them--with idiotic programs like B61 upgrades.
It's worth spending taxpayer's hard earned money on a handful of nuclear weapons-related programs. Non-proliferation activities to avoid the further spread of nuclear weapons (including removing other countries bomb-making stuff, and the conversion of nuclear power reactors to run on low-enriched uranium) are one priority. The funds for non-proliferation are at direct risk from the costs of the B61 Life Extension Program. Remediation of the enormous radiological mess left behind from decades of weapons manufacture is another priority. New and refurbished nuclear weapons, however, ought not get another dime.
The Obama administration's plans for new and overhauled
nuclear weapons are so obviously contrary to logic, presidential promises, and
fiscal responsibility that they even drew the recent attention of California
Senator Diane Feinstein:
"To me, it's a total backing away from a major commitment [the President's
Prague speech]; people say one thing, and do another." Feinstein, of course, is
unwilling to force the President's hand through appropriations legislation. Fortunately,
Massachusetts Congressman Edward Markey is bolder. His H.R. 1506
Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act (SANE) would do a host of
sensible and overdue things, including kill the B61 Life Extension Program.
Urge your Representative to co-sponsor it.
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