[orepa] Nuclear Arms Race update

[Ellen Thomas]

While a number of mainstream media have recently begun to speculate that we are on "the brink of" a new global nuclear arms race, those who have been paying closer attention know that we are way past the brink. In January, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists said we have entered a full blown nuclear arms race.

The July/August issue of Arms Control Today, published by the Arms Control Association, describes what that arms race looks like in very practical terms. Xiaodon Liang writes:

Defense policy committees in both houses of Congress have proposed expansions to the U.S. nuclear arsenal in their respective drafts of the key annual defense policy bill, ahead of floor votes expected later this summer.

The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended June 10 in its approved draft of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027 that the full chamber authorize two new nonstrategic nuclear weapons—also known as “theater” or “tactical” nuclear weapons—despite the fact that the departments of Defense and Energy have yet to request funding for them.

If Congress also appropriates funding for the programs, the proposed authorizing language would allow the departments to begin developing one new surface-launched and air-launched nuclear weapon each.

Among the things to notice in this report is that both houses of Congress are on board with funding new nuclear weapons—it's not just a Trump Administration push. And also noteworthy, Congress is pushing this forward despite the fact that no requests for this funding has come from the Departments of Defense or Energy...

The weaponeers, the corporations that profit from manufacturing weapons of mass destruction, and the financial institutions that invest in these bombs are counting on the fact that no one is paying attention. Those with long memories recall that it was the Reagan Administration's plans for expansion of the US nuclear arsenal that led to the nuclear freeze movement, a million-person march in New York City in 1982, and a broad campaign of resistance that included faith communities along with progressive peace and justice people.

Effective opposition to the current nuclear arms race starts with paying attention. Making ourselves look. Taking the time and making the effort to educate ourselves and preparing to have conversations.

OREPA is committed to being part of that process, and this email is one piece of it.

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