Posted on 03/09/2005 9:19:43 PM PST by TheOtherOne
Former Defense Secretary Derides 'illegal' Nuclear Policies
Published: Mar 9, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Former defense secretary Robert McNamara said Wednesday the United States and global nuclear powers haven't adhered to nonproliferation treaties and have done little to reduce nuclear arsenals following the end of the Cold War.
Speaking about U.S. and NATO nuclear policies at the World Affairs Council, the Vietnam-era defense secretary said the United States and other nuclear powers like Russia and China have pursued policies that are "illegal and immoral."
"A decade after the Cold War, the basic U.S. nuclear policy has not been changed," said McNamara, 88, adding that he believed "every leader of a nuclear power should be present at a detonation."
The remarks come as the Bush administration grapples with the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to discuss North Korea during an upcoming trip to South Korea followed by visits to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
China is heading stalled six-way talks to deter North Korea from building a nuclear weapon. North Korea has refused to return to the talks for now.
McNamara said the United States has continued to pursue an aggressive nuclear policy, including plans to update or enhance existing nuclear weapons and construct devices like "bunker busters" and "mini-nukes." He added that Russia still has scores of nuclear weapons pointed at the United States, many with antiquated operating systems.
"We have absolutely got to get rid of these weapons or reduce them to the degree that there is no chance of destroying nations," he said.
McNamara added that the threat of terrorists using a nuclear device could be reduced if the United States in particular tried to understand terrorists' anger and motivations.
McNamara served as defense secretary in both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations - he resigned as Johnson's defense secretary as public opposition rose to the Vietnam War - and was also president of the Ford Motor Co. and the World Bank.
Recently featured in the film "The Fog of War," McNamara was a prominent figure in the foundation of early U.S. nuclear weapons strategy. He was later criticized for his role in Vietnam by both veterans and the anti-war movement.
AP-ES-03-09-05 2345EST
This guy was a loser when he was SecDef. What makes him think we give a flying freak about his opinion now?
The quintessential lib--we need to understand, blah, blah, blah.
If ever the Peter Principle was defined in human form, McNamara is it.. Can you say, altogether now, "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP ROBERT."
vaudine
This guy would be the ultimate expert on that one. He lived it and did it, and if there is a hell, he's going there. That is my leap of faith.
Robert McNamara can go suck a rock.
I should add that the guy appears in a time warp. It is like he's been asleep like Rip Van Winkle, and awoke and just pounded the keyboard without updating himself about anything.
BTW, his middle name is "Strange".
Nobody is building nukes to deter the US from using its nukes. Period. Rogue nations are building nukes to avoid becoming Iraq all over again, or so they think.
McNamara must be one VERY worried and frightened dude....
Can you imagine the souls that he must face in the "after life" -- all those young men he wasted with such contempt...and dishonesty.
Until then, I wish he'd stay under his slimy rock...
Semper Fi
McNamara added that the threat of terrorists using a nuclear device could be reduced if the United States in particular tried to understand terrorists' anger and motivations.
"It is like he's been asleep like Rip Van Winkle, and awoke and just pounded the keyboard without updating himself about anything."
You could be on to something...he awoke during the kerry campaign and thought we were still in Viet Nam.
I, for one, am so sick of having to hear these whack jobs from previous dimwit administrations, as well as the current ones. You would think there are no Republicans in the government.
you are far too kind with your opinion.
His BS attitude is what the state department gives to George Bush because he bypasses their institutional stupidity.
Treaties are MEANINGLESS. International law is MEANINGLESS. Proliferation treaties were for public consumption as a delusion (see kool aid) they were NEVER for the real world.
Do you want my gun too? You are obviously not American, so I could not expect you to understand.
DU-libs and the Barbs and Bobs of the local 'award-winning' newscast LOVE this guy. McNamara keeps trying to get it right. I suppose his hubris is not so different than that of Rather, which results in just the same sort of ignorance, perhaps.
The architect of the Vietnam "proportional response" strategy that helped cost 50,000 lives of our nations youth.
He is accursed and I doubt that the good earth will ever endure a grave for him.
Regards,
He should follow Hunter Thompson's example.
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