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Obama to Pentagon: Scale Back Nuke Arsenal

President rejects Defense review, plans international deal

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 21, 2009 7:01 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama rejected the first draft of a Pentagon report on the US nuclear arsenal and is demanding a radical review ahead of deep cuts, according to the Guardian. The president, whose stated goal is the complete abolition of nuclear weapons, wants to see a range of options: cutting the arsenal from thousands of weapons to hundreds, new international rules to narrow opportunities for deployment, and an end to the testing or production of new warheads.

Obama is taking the uncommon step of chairing a UN Security Council meeting this week, which observers say is aimed at striking a grand bargain on disarmament and non-proliferation. One European official said that the impetus for the deal is coming straight from the Oval Office: "Obama is now driving this process. He is saying these are the president's weapons, and he wants to look again at the doctrine and their role."

President Barack Obama speaks about the US missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, at the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama speaks about the US missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, at the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Barack Obama speaks at a rally on health care reform, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, at the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.
Barack Obama speaks at a rally on health care reform, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, at the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 20 comments
I_hate_to_say
Sep 22, 2009 11:30 AM CDT
You are the one who needs to study, lindrnae, and not just history. Whatever it is you teach it surely isn't logic or argurnent. You "give up all our weapons" straw rnan fallacy is cartainly not worth you spent on it. Having a world free of opposing nuclear arsenals is a goal to aspire to. For the first tirne in rny adult life' I arn truly proud that the U.S. president takes the idea of "peace on earth" seriously.
lindamae
Sep 22, 2009 5:27 AM CDT
Ronnie used Star Wars to con the Russians into spending more money to keep us with us. They never knew that most of this issue was just rhetoric = and Russia spent themselves into the poorhouse. And loads of things that were created by our military during this time are still being used by us to make our lives easier. It was a great historical con job. There's loads of info available to learn more.
lindamae
Sep 22, 2009 5:22 AM CDT
Let's give up ALL of our weapons - after all - we have been told by Obama that America is horrible and bloodthirsty - so giving up all weapons should make him proud. ... I mean - after all - the leaders (Chavez, Putin, Gadhafi, the boys from Iran and Korea - to name a few. And militant Moslems who have threatened to destroy us - the great Satan-) who have threatened to destroy our country would NEVER follow through with their threats - no way. We can trust them. After all - they would never lie to us. So - let's just give up all of our weapons, our Constitution, our way of life, and perhaps our lives and our children's futures since it is obvious that peace is the only way to go. I mean - the world is such a safe place and there is NO country which has threatened another country with death for at least - what is it - 10 minutes? But - we need to give up ALL of our weapons - because our enemies will also do it also. Really. All I can think is that those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it. Perhaps Obama should take a quick American History class - QUICKLY. Who said walk softly but carry a big stick? Better advice than Obama's advice to walk softly and give up your big stick because you won't have to defend yourself against any enemy. Wow - I've been rambling - but wow - what an ignorant issue.

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