You might have heard already, but the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) is due to expire soon and so President Obama has proposed reducing stockpiles to 1,500- 2,000 nuclear warheads.
I have some basic ideas for this new treaty and would like your opinions.
Overall aims
I would aim for a reduction in deliverable nuclear warheads to a total of 800 for the United States of America and 1000 for the Russian Federation. Those precise numbers would be tweaked about, but reflect the differences in technological capabilities, as well as other things.
This number would allow for effective mass destruction of either country without ensuring complete "breakdown" of their countries.
No strategic weapon systems with increased capability from present would be permitted.
Nuclear long-range bombers
The US has the B-52 and B-2s as their sole aircraft tasked for strategic nuclear weapons, with 1,080 such warheads. Russia has the Tu-22M "Backfire", the Tu-95 "Bear" and the Tu-160 "Blackjack".
I propose that the B-52 fleet is reduced to a total of about 30 and completely denuclearised. The B-2 will become the sole US nuclear bomber, along with the "2018 bomber" and these two together limited to a total of about 40. These would only carry free-fall bombs.
Russia would de-nuclearify the "Backfire" and the "Bear", reducing their numbers to 100 of the former and 50 of the latter. The "Blackjack" could go up to 40 in numbers too, retaining the air-launched cruise missile capability..
Stealth would balance out stand-off capability.
Tactical nuclear weapons
Eliminate the lot of them- on both sides. They are not needed in any likely war scenario. This includes sub-launched cruise missiles.
ICBMs
Eliminate the R-39M/SS-18 and UR-100N/SS-19 from Russian service immediately. Allow Russia a total of 400 ICBM mounted warheads, on Topol, Topol-M and RS-24 missiles.
Reduce the US Minuteman III force to 150 missiles, with two warheads each.
SLBMs
The US would convert three more of the fourteen Ohio-SSBNs to SSGNs and eliminate a further four, leaving seven.
Russia would be allowed nine Borey SSBNs, with everything else going.
Anti-Ballistic Missiles
Now, this is where things will get a little more controversial.
Basically, the US will be allowed to continue development of NMD, if President Obama decides to do so. However, its deployment will be limited to a total capacity to intercept 150 warheads and limitations would be placed on BMD-capable ships (10 in total as a figure I'm throwing out there), which would be clearly marked (paint the launchers orange or something).
In return, Russia would be permitted to have intercept capability of 200 warheads, either expanding A-135 or converting S-400/SA-21 missiles for an ABM role.
Other thoughts
The inspection regime would continue as is with appropriate modificiations.
China and the other nuclear powers, as well as potential ones (like Iran and Saudi Arabia) should be brought into a global agreement on the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons
Personally, I'd like to see one each of the Ohio and "Typhoon" SSBNs as museum vessels.
So, your thoughts.
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
13 February 2009
29 November 2008
Winning The War On Terror
This is the first part of an ongoing series where I try to solve the world's problems and probably fail miserably. Nevertheless, it's the trying that counts.
My first such topic will be on the war on terror. Now, this is the obvious conflict that is going on and one we'd all like to end, whether it be bringing our relatives who serving in Iraq and Afghanistan home or just not having to remove your shoes every time you go through airport security.
One cannot win the war on terror by military means alone. Some argue that it cannot be won at all.
Jesus said "love your enemy". This might be a good approach.
One thing we have to remember- Muslims are not our enemy. Those who distort that religion for their own sick ends are. However, there's no reason why we should not also treat them with love.
It's going to be important for President Obama to close Guantanamo Bay down. While I strongly suspect that some of the abuses there have been exaggerated by people for their own purposes, its existence is a recruiting sergeant for disaffected Muslim youths. Those there need to be placed on trial in a system that combines transparency with security- i.e. not releasing information that must remain secret.
On the subject of disaffected Muslim youths- the Muslim community in this country do feel that they are being excluded. This one is going to be a bit controversial, but I think, provided all parties agree in advance, that sharia law courts should be allowed.
The anti-immigrant rhetoric of the Tory press must stop.
We need to tackle the Middle East problem starting now, not after Obama takes office. It is the single key issue that "Al-Qaeda" gets most of its support from and we need to show the Muslim street that we care about them.
This also applies, as I've already mentioned, to the corrupt governments in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia in particular.
Global poverty needs to be dealt with, recession or no recession. I'm rather curious as to how much of China's foreign debt (if it has any) British people actually own. One way to deal with that is eliminating all tax havens, so uncaring rich people have nowhere to run. Lewis Hamilton (not saying he's uncaring) could pay a little more tax for a start. I also favour the Tobin tax.
These will show that we love all people, regardless of their skin colour or beliefs.
Of course, it may end up being the most loving thing in some cases to drop a 500-lb bomb on someone's head, sadly.
Your thoughts are welcome.
My first such topic will be on the war on terror. Now, this is the obvious conflict that is going on and one we'd all like to end, whether it be bringing our relatives who serving in Iraq and Afghanistan home or just not having to remove your shoes every time you go through airport security.
One cannot win the war on terror by military means alone. Some argue that it cannot be won at all.
Jesus said "love your enemy". This might be a good approach.
One thing we have to remember- Muslims are not our enemy. Those who distort that religion for their own sick ends are. However, there's no reason why we should not also treat them with love.
It's going to be important for President Obama to close Guantanamo Bay down. While I strongly suspect that some of the abuses there have been exaggerated by people for their own purposes, its existence is a recruiting sergeant for disaffected Muslim youths. Those there need to be placed on trial in a system that combines transparency with security- i.e. not releasing information that must remain secret.
On the subject of disaffected Muslim youths- the Muslim community in this country do feel that they are being excluded. This one is going to be a bit controversial, but I think, provided all parties agree in advance, that sharia law courts should be allowed.
The anti-immigrant rhetoric of the Tory press must stop.
We need to tackle the Middle East problem starting now, not after Obama takes office. It is the single key issue that "Al-Qaeda" gets most of its support from and we need to show the Muslim street that we care about them.
This also applies, as I've already mentioned, to the corrupt governments in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia in particular.
Global poverty needs to be dealt with, recession or no recession. I'm rather curious as to how much of China's foreign debt (if it has any) British people actually own. One way to deal with that is eliminating all tax havens, so uncaring rich people have nowhere to run. Lewis Hamilton (not saying he's uncaring) could pay a little more tax for a start. I also favour the Tobin tax.
These will show that we love all people, regardless of their skin colour or beliefs.
Of course, it may end up being the most loving thing in some cases to drop a 500-lb bomb on someone's head, sadly.
Your thoughts are welcome.
21 September 2008
International Day of Prayer For Peace
Today is the International Day of Prayer for Peace, so I thought I'd weigh in on a particular area area that particularly needs some peace right now- the Middle East.
Israel is getting a new Prime Minister, who may change things there. I hope.
I think there are two things that needs to happen-
Israel also should not be using past suffering as an excuse for its own actions. While they are certainly entitled to a state, they still have to keep to the rules of civilised politics.
I have some concerns over the viability of a Palestinian state- especially one cut in twain by Israel. Like Weimar Germany, this tends not to work too well. Perhaps someone ought to build an oil pipeline to the West Bank.
This has lasted 60 years. Let's ensure it doesn't last 60 more. People are going to need to compromise.
Thoughts are welcome.
Israel is getting a new Prime Minister, who may change things there. I hope.
I think there are two things that needs to happen-
- The Israelis need to alter their counter-terrorism strategy radically so that they do not create more terrorists than the ones they remove.
- The Palestinians need to show willingness to accept Israel's existence (Hamas) and make serious effort at stopping this terrorism.
Israel also should not be using past suffering as an excuse for its own actions. While they are certainly entitled to a state, they still have to keep to the rules of civilised politics.
I have some concerns over the viability of a Palestinian state- especially one cut in twain by Israel. Like Weimar Germany, this tends not to work too well. Perhaps someone ought to build an oil pipeline to the West Bank.
This has lasted 60 years. Let's ensure it doesn't last 60 more. People are going to need to compromise.
Thoughts are welcome.
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