Nuclear Posture Review likely to call for deep cuts

The debate within the Obama Adminstration that has delayed release of the congressionally-mandated Nuclear Posture Review centers on the fundamental question regarding nuclear weapons: What are they for?  Regardless of whether the final document states that the weapons exist solely for the purpose of deterring a nuclear attack, or takes a broader view, the change will be significant, MIT's Jim Walsh told NPR.  "In contrast to the Bush administration nuclear policy, we have a statement that is going to come out and say, 'We don't want any more new nuclear weapons, and we don't want any new nuclear missions,'" Walsh said. "So that's a change from the past, and that we plan to reduce nuclear weapons in the thousands." Barry Blechman, founder of the Ploughshares-funded Stimson Center, agrees.  "It's a step back, a narrowing of the roles of nuclear weapons, and the president has said that that's the policy he wishes to pursue, to narrow both the roles of nuclear weapons and reduce their numbers."