Nuclear Policy and National Security by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired

Nuclear Policy and National Security
by Colonel Bob Pappas, USMC, Retired
The 1958-9 National Debate topic was, “Resolved: That the further development of nuclear weapons should be prohibited by international agreement.” That was while the Soviet Union and U.S. developed the massive nuclear arsenals that existed for much of the Cold War. The finely honed arguments of the best young minds were presented time and again. But despite the most persuasive arguments to dissuade the super-powers from further development, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. moved ahead with the development, testing and production of hundreds of varieties and thousands of warheads.
Both nations negotiated continuously about arms reductions, with the focus on nuclear weapons, and on occasion reached agreement with respect to numbers and types that each would dismantle. The U.S. typically conceded more than the Soviets out of consideration of the threat posed by “Chinese hordes.” But the interesting part is that although there has been historic animus between the Chinese and “Russian Bear” both lead the international effort to impose communism on the rest of the world.
President Truman devised the “Containment Doctrine” whose objective was through a series of bi-lateral and multi-lateral security arrangements to create a bulwark against incessant expansion of both the Soviet Union and Communist China. A cursory review of Chinese and Russian history reveals that both have a long history hegemony and influence, albeit broken by periods of quiescence. After President Reagan broke the back of the Soviet Union, the U.S. encouraged economically development of China, partly as a balance against Russia. Clinton even opened the door for transfer of ballistic missile and other military technology to China.
Trading with China was sanctioned during the H.W. Bush administration to create open doors for the advancement of democratic ideas, and freedom while the latter was ostensibly done as a show of good faith that the U.S. meant the Chinese no harm. The results of those efforts fostered an economic explosion in China that now enables enormous expansion of its military capability including nuclear weapons. Concomitantly was the continued expansion of Federal Government programs that exceeded and continues to exceed its income the most recent being the imposition of universal health care.
It is evident that the Obama administration mindset is that if we lay down our own arms, the rest of the world will feel less a need to arm itself. The interesting part of that empty argument is that it assumes nations seek arms because of the U.S.; it disregards the fact that the U.S. has not engaged in conquest for nationhood purposes since the “West” was won; and disregards the fact that nations have objectives independent of considerations about the U.S.. i.e. the world is and has always been multi-polar at some level.
Given Obama’s attendance at worship at Trinity United Church of Christ under the tutelage of its pastor, Jeremiah Wright for twenty years, his aversion to nuclear weapons is understandable. What he lacked, and evidently still does is an understanding of “Nuclear Deterrence.” Obama may have been belatedly briefed, even asserting that U.S. Nuclear Strategy “is crazy,” but his recent decision reveals a level of naivety that is breathtaking. He does not understand that just as bullies on a playground are deterred by those whose prowess is equal to or exceeds their own, so are nations. If he does understand, he is taking a huge risk that has immense security implications.
For decades the communist Chinese referred to the U.S. as a “paper tiger.” Now, with his “limp” nuclear strategy and absent strong economic underpinning that sustained U.S. interests for six decades, Obama and his party are rapidly “changing” the U.S. into a real “paper tiger.”
Obama is doing precisely what he promised and the nation is reaping a catastrophe; and, given the instant development it’s no longer possible for Obama to lay that catastrophe at “G.W.” Bush’s feet.
Semper Fidelis

Wild Thing’s comment……..
This destruction is at the feet of obama and we need to keep reminding people it is from him. That he is the enemy and his agenda is what has as the Col has said, “Obama and his party are rapidly “changing” the U.S. into a real “paper tiger.”

….Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67