Russian Deputy FM Sergey Ryabkov expressed “great concern” over the US decision to deploy W76-2 nuclear warheads on submarines, saying concerns were also fueled by “arguments previously voiced by the American side about the possible use of such a device.”
The Pentagon confirmed the deployment of the low-yield, submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead on Tuesday. Officials said it was needed to “deter” Russia.
Despite the nominal appeal to deterrence, US officials have often presented the low-yield nukes as more usable. This has fueled substantial concern that the US would introduce nukes with a lower threshold, and would make the use of nuclear weapons more common, and less unthinkable than they’ve been for decades.
This is just one aspect of the US nuclear policy that is concerning. The Air Force also announced Wednesday that they carried out a test-launch of the Minuteman III, fitted with a test re-entry vehicle, into the Pacific Ocean.
The test is part of an effort to modernize US nuclear-capable ICBMs. The test is part of a multi-billion dollar Pentagon program to develop advancements to the nuclear warhead being used by the ICBM. The test launch, of course, used an unarmed warhead.
Again, while the US is presenting this as routine military testing, it is impossible not to point out that the US routinely rails against other nations conducting any tests of this sort.
This isn’t about Russia. This is about Iran. They want to threaten Iran with these nukes. This is about the Millennium Challenge 2002.
Genocide against Iran while claiming to fight genocide.
In addition to these weapons being more usable and thus risking an all-out nuclear exchange, submarines are complicated machines in an unforgiving environment which sometimes end up on the bottom of the ocean, even when no combat is involved. If this occurs will the US do everything possible to recover nuclear material to ensure no one is poisoned by radioactivity and no random faction ends up with a nuclear weapon? The track record including the USS Thresher is crystal clear: NO.
No resource is spared to continue deploying unneeded nuclear submarines from bases which the navy has said they don’t want, no resources are available to comprehensively clean up the messes this creates. For instance Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was a superfund site, but decades of routine dumping of heavy metals into NH’s primary watershed clearly have health consequences far beyond the hot-spots which were addressed.
The US military, biggest polluter of them all.
“I am the way, the truth and the life” the same life that is in all us, that makes us all part of and equal to each other. Now there are those of us who feel they are special creatures, they are exceptional and/or chosen to rule and dominate the face of the earth, they would separate and glorify themselves at the expense of all the lessor creatures that are homeless, and starving, and continually slaughtered to make room for their masters who threaten to incinerate them if they don’t behave. I’m afraid this only leads to complete disaster.
Best listen to the Pope, he is a simple soul but among others is used by God to convey what is best for all of humanity not just the chosen few. That life that is in each of us is to be recognized and respected and cherished above everything else because it is our connection to the very source of all there is. “The kingdom is neither here nor there, the KIngdom is within you.”
“Best listen to the Pope, he is a simple soul but among others is used by God to convey what is best for all of humanity not just the chosen few.”
The Pope is a man. Nothing more. The idea that other men decide he is the one “used by god” makes it even more ridiculous.
MAD – Mutually Assured Destruction – the theory that if everyone has nukes, nobody will launch one.
It doesn’t mean you can launch a “low yield” nuke and get away with it.
What type of drugs are these people using?