May 29, 2008

John McCain on Nuclear Security

On Tuesday Republican presidential candidate John McCain delivered a speech in Denver laying out his views on nuclear issues (Full text here.) Here are two paragraphs that drew some attention from John Fleck at the Albuquerque Journal and Jon Wolfsthal at the Huffington Post.
I believe we must also address nuclear testing. As president I will pledge to continue America's current moratorium on testing, but also begin a dialogue with our allies, and with the U.S. Senate, to identify ways we can move forward to limit testing in a verifiable manner that does not undermine the security or viability of our nuclear deterrent. This would include taking another look at the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to see what can be done to overcome the shortcomings that prevented it from entering into force. I opposed that treaty in 1999, but said at the time I would keep an open mind about future developments.

I would only support the development of any new type of nuclear weapon that is absolutely essential for the viability of our deterrent, that results in making possible further decreases in the size of our nuclear arsenal, and furthers our global nuclear security goals. I would cancel all further work on the so-called Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, a weapon that does not make strategic or political sense.
Does that mean he wants to change the test ban treaty to allow limited testing? And why is he talking about RNEP? What do you think McCain meant?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Over the last week or so I've heard several specific references in the media to RNEP... Both candidates and anti-nuclear weapon types saying this program should be terminated. I thought it was already long dead.

Frank Young said...

So did I.

Anonymous said...

RNEP was explicitly banned by congress, but a new congress (and a new president) can resurrect it.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it clear McCain, like the rest of the field, doesn't have a real clue what he's talking about?

Does anyone really think he drafted the speech himself?

Get a grip, guys. It's politics.

Anonymous said...

McCain has to talk in code words to keep the public in the dark, but, rest assured, he's as good as Sam Pickens riding that big bomb in Dr. Strangelove. He's one of "us". Ye-hawwww!

Anonymous said...

"...At the same time, we must continue to deploy a safe and reliable nuclear deterrent..."

Hey, I've got an idea. How about a Reliable Replacement Warhead? We can call it RRW or SRND.

It will allow us to (in his words):

* reduce the size of our nuclear arsenal to the lowest number possible consistent with our security requirements and global commitments

* agree with Russia on binding verification measures based on those currently in effect under the START Agreement, to enhance confidence and transparency

*redouble our common efforts to reduce the risk that nuclear may fall into the hands of terrorists or unfriendly governments.

*move forward to limit testing in a verifiable manner that does not undermine the security or viability of our nuclear deterrent.

*only support the development of any new type of nuclear weapon that is absolutely essential for the viability of our deterrent, that results in making possible further decreases in the size of our nuclear arsenal, and furthers our global nuclear security goals.

Anonymous said...

Mac knows precisely what he's going to do if elected. He's in the back pocket of the military industrial complex, just like Bush was in bed from the getgo with the oil industry. And like Bush, Mac plans to make a huge fortune for his family and lobbyist friends at the expense of you, me and future generations. Public service my ass! Time to wake up America.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like McCain is "cancelling" RNEP as a diversionary tactic, possibly to leave the door open for RRW.

Anonymous said...

What do you think McCain meant?

McCain doesn't know what he is talking about. He is delivering lines from a script or worse he is regurgitating what he read in some news magazine from years gone by.

Anonymous said...

It's over for the GOP. It doesn't matter what McCain has to say to the public. Come November, the Grand Ol' Party is going to be completely stripped of all their power. They have become irrelevant, at least for now.

Anonymous said...

11:32 am: "It's over for the GOP."

What's your evidence for that belief? Aside from wishful thinking, that is. Dems, faced with the surest deal they've had in decades, have blown it on an unnecessary exercise in political correctness. All they really needed was a good, solid, well- known, unpolarizing, middle of the road candidate. Obviously, such a creature doesn't exist in the Democratic Party. Or if he does, most Democrats wouldn't vote for him anyway. Instead, they nominate one of the most liberal, least experienced politicians in the country. Good shot! Need help getting that bullet out of your foot?

Anonymous said...

You'll be choking on those words come November, 3:40 PM. Better start practicing now on how to correctly pronounce your new President's name..

President Barrack Hussein Obama.

I'll give you some phonetic help:

Baa-rock,

Who-sane,

O-bomb-a.

You'll be hearing it over and over for at least the next 4 years. Sweet!!!

Anonymous said...

5/30/08 10:57 PM

You got it! We all know Obama is
Muslim and if anyone has any doubts just remember his affilation with Rev Wright.

Christ this country could be in real trouble, maybe we should support a military coup and appoint Bush as our supreme leader. Freedom!!!!!

Anonymous said...

5/30 10:57 pm: "Baa-rock,

Who-sane,

O-bomb-a.

You'll be hearing it over and over for at least the next 4 years. Sweet!!!"

Yeah, and the ones getting "bomb-a"'d will be us. "Please, please, can't we talk?? I know you really don't want to kill us, we're really good people. Please, let's just talk!" Yada, Yada. Yada, bring out the body bags (again). Jimmy Carter redux. Sweet!!!

Anonymous said...

5/31/08 8:32 PM

Carter was better than Bush.

Anonymous said...

Bush's current poll ratings are below Nixon's at Tricky Dick's lowest point in time. The initial comments by historians also are looking pretty bleak for Dubya and I dobut subsequent historians will be kind to him or the party he lead during this period.

Yeah, Bush is worse than Carter. He's also worse than just about any other President during the last 100 years of US history.

Come November, it's gonna be payback time for both Bush and his badly broken party. And you know what they say... payback is a bitch!

Anonymous said...

2:31 pm: "Come November, it's gonna be payback time for both Bush and his badly broken party."

The party, maybe. Bush, no way. He's going back to Texas with plenty of money, a great pension, lifetime security for his family, and lots of high-priced real estate. How's that "payback"? The new president will find to his chagrin that presidents get the credit for everything good, and the blame for everything bad, whether they can affect the situations or not (usually not). Since it is certain that things will continue to get worse after January, guess what? Guess $10 per gallon gasoline will be Obama's fault!