Posted on 02/07/2003 7:22:01 AM PST by honway
http://www.af.mil/news/Oct2002/100402169.shtml
Deactivation of Peacekeeper missiles begins
by 2nd Lt. Matthew Bates
90th Space Wing Public Affairs
Deactivation of Peacekeeper missiles begins
by 2nd Lt. Matthew Bates
90th Space Wing Public Affairs
10/04/02 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFPN) -- On a blustery day in a remote corner of the plains of Wyoming, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James Roche made a special trip to witness the first phase of the deactivation process of the Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile at Launch Facility S-07 near Hawk Springs, Wyo.
"It's a momentous point in history," Roche said. "It's a reflection of how the world has changed and how we are adapting to a new era."
At the height of the Cold War, the Air Force sought a missile design that would strengthen the ground-based leg of the strategic triad. Anti-ballistic missile submarines and bombers compised the other two legs of the triad.
The Peacekeeper design offered increased range, greater accuracy, and variable-yield warheads to capitalize on multiple, independently targeted warheads. The concept of this advanced ICBM began in 1972 under the Missile-X program, but was later renamed Peacekeeper in the early 1980s.
In 1988, Warren AFB became the first and only installation to operate, maintain and secure the missile, which is capable of delivering 10 independently targeted warheads. Fifty Peacekeeper ICBMs and five launch control centers are dispersed over eastern Wyoming, all operated by the 400th Missile Squadron here.
"This is the most accurate ballistic missile that was ever designed and fielded," Roche said. "And it did its job."
Gen. John Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, authorized the deactivation process, which officially began Oct. 1, in an implementer memo sent in September. In the memo, Jumper said the decision to deactivate the missile was prompted by the current world situation and the findings of the Nuclear Posture Review.
The deactivation is the first step of President Bush's stated goal to reduce the nation's nuclear arsenal from 6,000 warheads to between 1,700 and 2,200. Roche said Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin both verbally agreed to cut their nuclear arsenal without enacting a treaty.
"This is what two adult states who clearly are not hostile to each other do," Roche said. "I honestly didn't think this would happen when I left the service in the 1980s."
"I had the honor to be the wing commander here 10 years ago," said Gen. Lance Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command. "The secretary said he never thought he'd see this day, and I didn't either. But one thing that hasn't changed is the skill and professionalism of the people still committed to this mission."
The process to deactivate the Peacekeeper will occur over three years, but until the final Peacekeeper is pulled from its silo, the remaining missiles will continue to stay on "tip-top alert," Lord said.
The 90th Space Wing will continue to operate, maintain and secure 150 Minuteman III ICBMs and 15 missile alert facilities. The approximately 600 people assigned to the Peacekeeper will begin transitioning at the culmination of the deactivation.
Peacekeeper warheads, with their advanced safety features, will be installed on Minuteman III ICBMs as part of the Safety Enhanced Re-entry Vehicle program, allowing the Air Force to upgrade its Minuteman fleet.
"It's a different world," Roche said. "It doesn't mean it is totally peaceful, but I'm delighted this day is here."
Meanwhile China is deploying mobile ICBMs with MIRV capability.
"It's a different world," Roche said. "It doesn't mean it is totally peaceful, but I'm delighted this day is here."
I know he said this in October, but October was not that long ago. As we approach war today with a nation with weapons of mass destruction and the will to use those weapons, "It doesn't mean it is totally peaceful" may be the understatement of the decade.
Is this the right weapon system at the right time to deactivate?
Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles have great survivability but SLBM's do not have the accuracy of the Peacekeeper. SLBMs are for cities, the Peacekeeper was designed to destroy military targets.
In fact it surprised Deputy Defense Secretary Hamre in the 90's when he was briefed on the policy of permitting access to our National Labs to PRC scientists.
To quote from Notra Trulock's recent book,Kindred Spirit, page 200.:
"During one discussion about Chinese nationals working at the labs, Hamre exploded: "Someone please tell me why there are god-damned Chinese commies coming into national labs!"
My only reponse is, good question. And it continues. Maybe we can sell the Peacekeeper to China since we are giving them the information to build it for free.
page 157
"...who was telling me about a study done recently at Livermore that looked at the projects PRC scientists were working on, or at least were funded by nuclear weapons program monies.The number was quite high: as I recall, over one hundred Chinese scientists working mostly on computing projects associated with DOE Strategic Computing initiative-unclassified research in support of what was ultimately a classified project."
OTOH, I think they do act as somewhat of a deterrent to the Saddam Husseins of this world. And God knows that Africa is full of petty little dictators who haven't attacked the civilized world yet for this very reason.
Aside from that, I agree with the real heart of your argument. Trusting Russia or China is positively insane. We have been slowly committing suicide; and I'm not at all sure it can be reversed now, though it's certainly worth a try!
On a side note, at least some in the younger generation are alert to the danger. My son will turn 30 in a couple of months. He told me last week that he and his friends have occasionally discussed what they see as the future. He said they are all of the opinion that the US will not exist in another 50 years, though they are somewhat divided about whether it will be swallowed up by some form of world government, or whether it will be flat out annihilated by our enemies.
Despite this bleak outlook, they still struggle on. They are still having families and pursuing careers, so they must have some hope in there somewhere.
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