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FAS Urges White House to exclude Nuclear Weapons From National Security Strategy in War on Terrorism
WASHINGTON DC The new National Security Strategy published yesterday by the White House strengthens the role of nuclear weapons in preemptive military strikes against terrorists and hostile states armed with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. In stronger language than used in the previous strategy from 2002, the new strategy speaks more directly about the importance of nuclear weapons and lumps them together with other military action in a preemption scenario.
"The National Security Strategy was the Bush administration's last opportunity to demonstrate that it has reduced the role of nuclear weapons after the Cold War," said Hans M. Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists ( FAS ). "Instead it has chosen to reaffirm their importance and in the most troubling way possible: preemption."
Under the headline "The Need for Action," the new National Security Strategy says: " Safe, credible, and reliable nuclear forces continue to play a critical role. We are strengthening deterrence by developing a New Triad composed of offensive strike systems ( both nuclear and improved conventional capabilities )... These capabilities will better deter some of the new threats we face, while also bolstering our security commitments to allies....If necessary, however, under long-standing principles of self-defense, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy's attack. When the consequences of an attack with WMD are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idle by as grave dangers materialize. This is the principle and logic of preemption."
The strategy identifies Iran, North Korea, and terrorism as the three main threats to the United States and its allies. The report had harsh words for Iran at a time when the United States and its European allies have brought Iran before the U.N. Security Council to answer allegations that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
The United States cannot argue that Iran should give up it nuclear ambitions while advocating an aggressive strategy for pre-emptive use of American nuclear weapons, said Ivan Oelrich, Vice President of Strategic Security for the FAS.
The National Security Strategy forms the basis for the Pentagon's development of the National Military Strategy, which in turn is used to create the Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan that assigns military forces and capabilities to the different military commands to fulfill the National Security Strategy.
The release of the National Security Strategy coincides with the publication of a new FAS report yesterday on the nuclear aspects of the preemptive aspects of the Pentagon's new Global Strike mission: http://www.nukestrat.com/us/stratcom/GSchron.htm
Later today, a 3:30 pm, the Senate armed Service Committee holds a hearing on the Global Strike mission.
NOTE TO REPORTERS To schedule an interview with Ivan Oelrich or Hans Kristensen, please contact Monica Amarelo at email mamarelo@fas.org or call 202-454-4680.
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The Federation of American Scientists ( www.fas.org ) was formed in 1945 by atomic scientists from the Manhattan Project. Endorsed by nearly 60 Nobel Laureates in biology, chemistry, economics, medicine and physics as sponsors, the Federation has addressed a broad spectrum of national security issues in carrying out its mission to promote humanitarian uses of science and technology. Today, FAS projects study nuclear arms control and global security; conventional arms transfers; proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; information technology for human health; and government information policy. The FAS Housing Technology Project combines the talents of engineers and energy specialists to develop new materials and design methods that will lead to safe, energy-efficient, affordable homes in the U.S. and abroad. The FAS Information Technologies Project works on strategies to harness the potential of emerging information technologies to improve how we teach and learn.
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Federation of American Scientists ( FAS )
1717 K Street, NW
Suite 209
Washington, DC 20036
www.fas.org
Monica Amarelo 202-454-4680 mamarelo@fas.org
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