Arms Control

Earlier this month when President Obama was in Russia, he signed a preliminary agreement on a new arms-control treaty. It commits the U.S. and Russia to cut their nuclear weapons to the lowest levels since the early years of the Cold War.

How should we think about this latest attempt at arms control? I would commend to you two articles. One is by Melanie Kirkpatrick who summarized her interview with former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger. He served as defense secretary for President Nixon and President Ford as well as energy secretary for President Carter. He was also CIA Director under Nixon. He makes a compelling case for “Why We Don’t Want a Nuclear-Free World.”

I would also suggest a commentary by Keith Payne on “Arms Control Amnesia.” He is currently a professor of defense and strategic studies and co-author of what I consider to be the best book on arms control from a Christian perspective.

Schlesinger makes the case that we use nuclear weapons every day “to deter our potential foes and provide reassurance to the allies to whom we offer protection.” He believes that President Obama’s wish for a nuclear-free world would be more dangerous than the one we have now. In such a world, “what we would have is a number of countries sitting around with breakout capabilities or rumors of breakout capabilities . . . and a number of small clandestine stockpiles.” He says this would make the U.S. more vulnerable.

As for the current agreement, Payne points out that the reduction in weapons and launchers is really only a benefit to the Russians. “Because the number of deployed Russian strategic ICBMs, SLBMs, and bombers will drop dramatically simply as a result of their aging. In other words, a large number of Russian launchers will be removed from service with or without a new arms-control agreement.”

Winston Churchill once said: “Be careful above all things not to let go of the atomic weapon until you are sure and more than sure that other means of preserving peace are in your hands.” When pursuing arms control, it is wise to be careful. I’m Kerby Anderson, and that’s my point of view.