Dempsey: Status quo still an option on nukes

WASHINGTON - The nation's top military leader says discussions about sharp new cuts in the U.S. nuclear force are preliminary and maintaining the status quo is still an option.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, was pressed Wednesday about The Associated Press report that the administration is weighing a reduction of up to 80 percent in the number of deployed weapons.

Dempsey declined to comment on that figure. He said talks are ongoing in anticipation of negotiations with Russia.

The AP reported that the administration is considering at least three options for lower numbers. The potential cuts would be from the current treaty limit of 1,550 deployed strategic warheads.

No final decision has been made, options range from cutting stockpiles from 1,000 to 1,100, 700 to 800, or 300 to 400, according to a former government official and a congressional staffer. Both spoke on condition of anonymity in order to reveal internal administration deliberations.

U.S. considers sharp cuts to nuclear force

President Obama has often cited his desire to seek lower levels of nuclear weapons, but specific options for a further round of cuts had been kept under wraps until the AP learned of the three options now on the table.

A spokesman for the White House's National Security Council, Tommy Vietor, said Tuesday that the options developed by the Pentagon have not yet been presented to Obama.

The Pentagon's press secretary, George Little, declined to comment on specific force level options because they are classified. He said Obama had asked the Pentagon to develop several "alternative approaches" to nuclear deterrence.

Republican Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas complained that any cuts would encourage U.S. enemies and discourage allies.

The U.S. already is on track to reduce to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads by 2018, as required by New START. As of last Sept. 1, the United States had 1,790 warheads and Russia had 1,566, according to treaty-mandated reports by each. The treaty does not bar either country from cutting below 1,550 on their own.

Nuclear stockpile numbers are closely guarded secrets in most states that possess them, but private nuclear policy experts say no countries other than the U.S. and Russia are thought to have more than 300. The Federation of American Scientists estimates that France has about 300, China about 240, Britain about 225, and Israel, India and Pakistan roughly 100 each.

[joesapper]

this obama is doing things are not so bright, like the oil from canada and all the jobs that were wiped out . what about the 19 detained americans in egypt??