Editor:
On June 19, 2013, in Berlin, Germany, President Obama pledged to continue our nation’s journey toward a world free of nuclear arms.
He stated a goal of reducing the U.S. stockpile of “deployed strategic nuclear weapons by up to one-third.” The president also promised “to seek bold reductions in U.S. and Russian tactical weapons in Europe,” among other measures.
Yet at the same time, Congress is considering an FY 2014 military budget item of more than $500 million that calls for refurbishing 400 B61 tactical nuclear bombs located in Europe, including at least 60 in the nation of Turkey, beset by unrest for the last week or so. Total cost for this project is estimated at more than $10 billion - at least $25 million apiece.
Designed 60 years ago to be used in the event Soviet forces were pouring into Europe, it is now superfluous, according to Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Yet the Pentagon wants to spend billions to keep them usable. We could save a lot of tax dollars and take a significant step toward the nuclear arms reductions the president just promised by consigning the B61 to the recycling bin.
Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) is on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has influence in shaping the final budget. I hope he will work to eliminate the B61 refurbishment from the 2014 budget.
Tom Vaughan
Silver City, N.M.