Bush Recommends Dismantling of Nuclear Weapons

W A S H I N G T O N, Jan. 9 -- The Bush administration is recommending a reduction in America's stockpile of "active" nuclear weapons and fewer constraints on future nuclear testing.

The recommendations by the Pentagon and the U.S. Department of Energy are included in a congressionally mandated Nuclear Posture Review and also include support for a missile defense shield.

J.D. Crowley, undersecretary of defense for international security, said today the review is based on the Pentagon's assessment of the ever-changing security environment. Pentagon officials readily admit that U.S. nuclear and missile preparedness are based on a Cold War, mutually assured destruction model where the Soviet Union is the only real opponent.

But Russia is becoming more and more friendly with the United States. President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in November to reduce nuclear stockpiles. The review suggests the new nuclear threat to U.S. security comes from small, rogue nations that are only now developing their nuclear capabilities.

While Bush and Putin promised to reduce their nuclear stockpiles to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads, the administration plans a reduction only of the "active" stockpile. This means that while a majority of the 6,000 operational nuclear weapons in the United States will be dismantled, they will not be destroyed — a distinction that critics of the Bush's nuclear policy call disingenuous.

More Options and Relaxed Restrictions

The review calls for what Crowley called a "broader portfolio" of options for the president to consider in deterring other nations from attacking the United States. For instance, it calls for "rapid and robust" research and development of a national missile defense shield like the one favored by Bush since the presidential campaign.

At the same time it relaxes restrictions on government testing of nuclear devices and maintains the Bush administration's refusal to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. While not endorsing the treaty, the review recommends keeping in place a moratorium on nuclear testing.