The block of military bases is pregnant with political hazard , since they pump 1000000 of dollars into state economies . So , when members of Congress find out that the reduction of 50 nuclear - armed nuclear missiles could shut down Air Force bases , they agitate for a compromise to keep them open .
The number of land - free-base nuclear missiles is being cut in compliance with the New START treaty that the U.S. sign with Russia in 2010 . The U.S. plans to hit 50 ICBM from their silos over the next four old age — the missile wo n’t be eliminated , but decommissioned and placed into storage . But , the remotion of 50 missiles would be sufficient to close down an entire Air Force base , which did n’t sit well with lawmakers representing the Department of State that are home to those adeptness — Montana , Wyoming and North Dakota .
In response to the call , the Defense Department agreed to remove a handful of missile from each of the bases . The empty silos would be maintain operational ( known as “ warm status ” ) , and the bases would continue to maintain and ward them — in case the U.S. ever planned to put the missile back in service . As a result , all of the intercontinental ballistic missile squadrons stay operating , and there ’s no need to shut down the bases or even layoff any personnel .
But , as the LA Timesreported , not everyone okay of this deal :
The decision to largely save earth - based missile is at odds with the passport of some out-of-door experts , who have called for annihilate or profoundly cut the Minuteman III and bank rather on submarines and grinder to carry nuclear weapon .
Bruce Blair , a former ICBM launching officer and founding father of Global Zero , a group that seeks elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide , said it would have been more monetary value effective and “ strategically sensible ” to eliminate an ICBM squadron .
Because it is in a fixed location , a Minuteman III projectile is more vulnerable to a surprise atomic flak and therefore would have to be fired chop-chop in a crisis , make it more destabilizing , Blair said .
“ It is design rigorously to fight a large - scale atomic war with Russia , ” he articulate .
The White House released astatementopposing the amendment :
This plane section would infringe on the President ’s authority to determine the appropriate military group structure to meet atomic deterrence requirements , to determine the number of strategic bringing vehicles require to meet interior security measures requirements , and to apply changes in those military unit . While it is the President ’s determination that 50 of the current 450 Minuteman III silos will rest in a non - deployed — warm — status , this provision would tie the hand of all presidents with esteem to force structure … .Moreover , as the Department presently plans to do routine testing and sustenance on some silos , which would temporarily isolate them from the interconnected and redundant command and control scheme of the projectile field during overhaul , the provision as draft could prevent the Department from lead this necessary testing and maintenance .
In other words , this amendment , if passed , would in effect prevent the president and future presidential term from for good excrete any extra earth - based missiles , if they ever choose to do so . It also prevents the White House and Department of Defense from change the balance of the nuclear armory , if , for instance , officials should decide to shift more nukes to submarines .
And , the amendment , as word , would proscribe the Air Force from taking intercontinental ballistic missile silos offline for care or troubleshooting . As the Great Falls Tribunereported :
Such a situation occur on May 17 when a projectile bunch was perform stock post - maintenance tests on an ICBM assigned to the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming .
The gang received system indications from one of its launch facilities that postulate a maintenance response , said Lt . Col . John Sheets , spokesman for AFGSC .
While on site , the sustenance squad find abnormal indicant on the missile , was unable to resolve them in the field and need steps to ensure the internet site was good , sail said .
“ The missile has been shoot offline to ease a full engineering judgement and safe investigation , ” canvass say .
find safe , now ?
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