Nuclear Weapons Spending Debate Heating Up

On the radar: Turner says more spending, no cuts; Smith on cuts and commitments; Nonpro funding questioned; LA Times: don’t give up on diplomacy; Kerry on the perils of loose talk of war; Possible Parchin cleanout; NATO-Russia after elections; Strange economy around Los Alamos; 12 Senators skeptical of diplomacy; and a legitimate EMP worry, finally.

March 8, 2012 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke and Mary Kaszynski

Rep. Turner on nuclear budgets - Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) took to the pages of Politico to oppose further nuclear weapons reductions, lobby for increased nuclear weapons spending, and express concern about Congressional process.

--”Any further nuclear reductions must be met with ample justification for how U.S. security will be enhanced,” writes Rep. Turner. Flipping that argument around, those lobbying for increased nuclear spending should explain how that enhances U.S. security. Rep. Turner’s explanation from his op-ed hinges on the argument that the status quo seems sufficient, paired with worries that extended deterrence might be undermined with any fewer nuclear weapons. http://owl.li/9x3XB

Rep. Adam Smith on nuclear budgets - In an article warning of “Republican Ire” on nuclear weapons budget cuts, Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democratic on House Armed Services, provides a counterpoint to recent comments from Rep. Turner. On whether the U.S. needs a nuclear stockpile of the size we have, Rep. Smith said, “There’s some pretty compelling evidence that we don’t.”

--On administration commitments for increased nuclear spending, Rep. Smith said, ““The president made the promise. And I was not on either side of that equation because it was the Senate Republicans...It’s between the two of them, as far as I’m concerned.” http://owl.li/9x3Vo

Quote - “Neither [the U.S. Enrichment Corporation nor the Fissile Materials Disposition program] contributes to securing vulnerable materials....I have yet to be provided with any compelling reason for the -- including the funding USEC within Nonproliferation,” Rep. John Olver (D-MA) said at a budget hearing yesterday. Global Security Newswire has the story. http://owl.li/9x3GV

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The case for diplomacy - “President Obama has made a compelling case for his policy of diplomacy backed by military might,” the LA Times editorial board writes. “It is far too early to give up on diplomacy.” http://owl.li/9x3PZ

Quote - “While wise Republicans stress the perils of loose war talk and the value of engagement to isolate Iran, Romney seeks to create political division with an attack on the Obama administration’s Iran policy that is as inaccurate as it is aggressive,” writes Sen. John Kerry in the Washington Post in a rebuttal to Romney’s recent op-ed that both criticized and all but co-opted the administration’s Iran policy. http://owl.li/9x3TA

Iran Debate - “Should the United States take military action against Iran?” Colin Kahl and Matthew Kroenig debate at CSIS, Monday the 12th at 6pm. Details and RSVP here. http://owl.li/9suxD

Cleaning Parchin - Satellite imagery taken of Iran’s Parchin facility indicates an attempt to clean up radioactive traces possibly left by past nuclear weapons-related research. The images were provided to the IAEA by member countries. George Jahn of AP has the story. http://owl.li/9x3N2

After Russia’s election - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet bilaterally in the near future to discuss NATO-Russia cooperation on missile defense. AP has the story. http://owl.li/9x3Li

Los Alamos’ jobs argument - A recent New York Times article "Los Alamos Residents Brace for Layoffs at Lab" is misleading on several counts, Jay Coghlan notes in a point-by-point critique.

--For example, lab officials claim that the CMRR delay led to job cuts. Coghlan responds, “The NNSA admitted that despite a ~$5 billion investment [in CMRR] the project would create zero new permanent jobs because it would merely relocate existing jobs from older facilities.” http://owl.li/9x3Jt

Senators skeptical of diplomacy - In a statement issued yesterday, a group of 12 senators called for “a continuing and expanding campaign of U.S. and international pressure on the regime and that such pressure must continue until there is a full and complete resolution of all components of illicit Iranian nuclear activities." Josh Rogin reports. http://owl.li/9x3HW

Cost constraints - “Russia has no plans to update its massive Akula-class ballistic missile submarines given the cost of such a project,” according to a defense industry insider. Global Security Newswire reports. http://owl.li/9x3FK

Solar flare brings EMP risk - The sun just unleashed of the largest solar flares of this 11-year solar cycle. The flare “could result in a severe geomagnetic storm, causing aurora at low latitudes, with possible disruption to high frequency radio communication, global positioning systems (GPS), and power grids,” notes NASA.

--Per all EMP threats, expect a missile defense solution to be forthcoming from “Star Wars” die hards in Congress. http://owl.li/9x3E6