43 REPUBLICAN SENATORS VOW TO OPPOSE ADDITIONAL STOCKPILE CUTS

A group of 43 Republican Senators is vowing to oppose any additional reductions to the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, calling President Obama’s suggestion earlier this week that the U.S. could reduce its nuclear arsenal below the ceiling set by the New START Treaty “ill-advised.” Obama reaffirmed the Administration’s plans to reduce the nation’s stockpile earlier this week when he said “I can already say with confidence that we have more nuclear weapons than we need,” and it is expected that the Pentagon’s Nuclear Posture Review implementation study will facilitate additional cuts to the stockpile. The Republicans, led by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), noted in a March 27 letter that former U.S. Strategic Command chief Gen. Kevin Chilton said in 2010 that the New START Treaty force levels were adequate to maintain the nation’s nuclear deterrent. “In light of this comment—and the fact that your administration is still engaged in a study of our nuclear forces—it would certainly seem premature, and quite possibly incorrect, to claim that we can further reduce our nuclear arsenal,” the Republican Senators wrote. “This is especially so given that reductions to even New START force levels were predicated on the successful completion of a nuclear modernization program that has lost your full support and now appears delayed.”