[Bedford Forrest]

"The half-life of the triggers for such atomic weapons is typically 60 days, after that, the weapon requires new radioactive material (as well as specialized electronincs maintenance)."

As in tritium - but I thought the half-life was measured in years, not months. In any event, re tritium's criticality [exquisite double entendre] to the effectiveness of our nukes, recall that the Cowardly Quisling Poofterboy Klinton tried to shut down the only plant manufacturing tritium. Perhaps he intended to buy it from the Chinese Commies, through the good offices of Senator Feinslyme's odious spouse - who knows? I don't recall what happened - the attempt was highly publicized but the result was not. Presumably the attempt failed.

[Travis McGee]

Folks are confusing fusion and fission devices and their needs.

[Lael]

The half-life of the triggers for such atomic weapons is typically 60 days, after that, the weapon requires new radioactive material (as well as specialized electronincs maintenance)

Actually when the 'triggers' (the still classified Initiators) used Radio Isotopes to operate, that may have been true.

I understand from an article in the Economist that modern nuclear 'triggers' use a Vaccuum Tube to provide the requisite Neutrons.

The article did not disclose how it is constructed.