[JohnGalt]

The reductions are going on because the missiles don't work (rather the Pentagon cannot be sure they work 'cause tehy are not allowed to test them anymore) so it makes sense to reduce them under the guise of disarmament so that we can watch the Russians.

That is theory anyway and the explanation.

[Sender]

The reductions are going on because the missiles don't work

Also we will still own a couple of THOUSAND nuclear warheads, our best and newest ones, even if Putin gets his wish list. I think that's a deterrent to anyone that might cobble together one backyard nuke. And we can take the savings from maintaining obsolete weapons and buy some NEW toys.

[callisto]

My angle on the nuclear arms reduction is this:

The size of our arsenal is HUGE. Reduction to 1700-2000 nukes will leave more than enough to accomplish any and all goals for their use. The next time a (large)nuclear device is used by any major power in the world will probably be the last. Either we will respond with a nuke and be ballyhooed into disarming altogether or we will find ourselves in a rather distaseful game of repetitive launches wherewith we, along with our oppponent, will wreak havoc upon the face of the earth leaving the planet uninhabitable for some time.

Needless to say, but I am definitely PRO-MDS.