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October 28, 2022

Pentagon Nuclear Posture Review Won't Rule Out U.S. First Strike
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The Biden administration has released its Nuclear Posture Review for
2022, with anti-nuclear groups warning the document will do little to
prevent the threat of a catastrophic war. The document proposes cutting
some programs like a submarine-launched nuclear cruise missile system
begun under former President Trump. However, the White House is pressing
ahead with a so-called "modernization plan" aimed at upgrading the U.S.
arsenal, currently estimated at about 5,400 nuclear warheads. Last year
the Congressional Budget Office estimated those programs will cost more
than $630 billion this decade alone. The Union of Concerned Scientists
said in a statement, "President Biden could have used the Nuclear
Posture Review to dramatically decrease the risk of nuclear war by
declaring that the United States will never start a nuclear war and
ending the president's sole authority to launch a nuclear strike. These
changes would immediately reduce the risk of a misunderstanding,
miscalculation or flat-out mistake leading to a world-changing nuclear
war."


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