The U.S. had reduced its nuclear warheads stockpile by nearly 50% from over 10, 000 warheads at the end of 2006 to about 5,400 at the end of 2007. It will further cut the stockpile to 4,500 by 2012, according to the article US Nuclear Forces, 2008 published on Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists March/April, 2008.
From 10,000 to 5,400, the reduction seems very significant. The National Nuclear Security Administration thus claimed this sent a signal to the world that the U.S. government has been committed to reduction of the nuclear weapon stockpile.
But what are behind the beautiful figures? Let us see what had been reduced and what are still remain in the US nuclear weapon arsenal. Most of the 5,000 warheads removed from its arsenal just underwent a change of status, from active and ready to launch state to in storage state. If necessary, they will be reactivated to become nuclear weapons again. In fact, the U.S. only dismantled 250 warheads in 2007.
This is a mere figure game, which does not affect the U.S. nuclear capacity at all. The figures don't alter the fact that the U.S. is still the owner of the world's largest nuclear weapons arsenal, nor do they change "the capability to incinerate all of our enemies on 15 minutes' notice". This figure change cannot cover the U.S. nuclear ambition to dominate the world.
At the same time the U.S. removed warheads from its arsenal, the U.S. took a series of worrying actions i.e., restart of small-scale nuclear weapon production, quickened deployment of missile defense system and enhancement of the current nuclear weapons.
The U.S. restarted the small-scale nuclear weapon production for the first time in 15 years in 2007. It plans to initially complete building a global missile defense system in 2011, with the US homeland at center, east Asia and Europe as two wings. At present, 20 ballistic missile interception devices have been installed in the U.S. homeland. Moreover, the U.S. has reached agreements with Poland and Czech for setting up missile launch and anti-missile radar systems in their territories.
The U.S. has been working to enhance the performance of its nuclear weapons on hand. For example, the Minuteman III intercontinental missile will be equipped with more powerful warhead and undergo complete update in engine, fuel, navigating device and software, which is expected to be completed in 2007.
The ballistic missiles onboard the Ohio strategic nuclear submarines in the Pacific Ocean will undergo complete update to increase its range, accuracy and lethality this year.
The U.S strategy to fend off other nuclear powers' threat by missile defense system, and the upgrade of its nuclear weapons will probably make DPRK, Iran and Syria more worried. It will also make countries like Russia to follow up passively, leading to a nuclear arms race.
Seeking "absolute safety" through missile defense system will only make other countries feel 'absolutely unsafe" and will cause another round of nuclear weapons upgrade race. The U.S. has not ratified Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and is never committed to "No First Use of Nuclear Weapons ". In the 2002 U.S. Nuclear Posture Review, the U.S. not only took nuclear weapons as tools for diplomatic bullying and preemptive attacks, but also lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, which dramatically increases the possibility of using nuclear weapons in future wars.
Playing figure game cannot deceive others, and helps little to cover its ambition. The U.S., as a dominant nuclear power, could be truly beneficial for the world peace and security if it dismantles nuclear weapons in large scale, stops the missile defense system, and ratifies Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
By People's Daily Online
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