Obama accused of nuclear U-turn as guided weapons plan emerges

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Guardian

Barack Obama has been accused of reneging on his disarmament pledges after it emerged the administration was planning to spend billions on upgrading nuclear bombs stored in Europe to make the weapons more reliable and accurate.

Under the plan, nearly 200 B61 gravity bombs stockpiled in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Turkey would be given new tail fins that would turn them into guided weapons that could be delivered by stealth F35 fighter-bombers.

"This will be a significant upgrade of the US nuclear capability in Europe," said Hans Kristensen, a nuclear weapons expert at the Federation of Nuclear Scientists. "It flies directly in the face of the pledges Obama made in 2010 that he would not deploy new weapons."

In its Nuclear Posture Review in 2010, the US undertook to do reduce the role and numbers of its nuclear weapons, in part by not developing new nuclear warheads, and pledging it would not "support new military missions or provide for new military capabilities".

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/21/obama-accused-nuclear-guided-weapons-plan

[bowens43]

1. No surprise here, Obama rarely does what promises he will do.....

[byeya]

29. + +

[Ian David]

44. Wrong.

Obama scorecard: Most promises kept

One of the political fact-checking organizations is giving President Obama high marks for promises kept in his first term.

PolitiFact reports that Obama "has fulfilled or made substantial progress on 72% of the 508 promises he made when he ran for president in 2008."

Reports PolitiFact:

"The ongoing project by the Tampa Bay Times' fact-checking website reveals that Obama has achieved 47% of his promises, earning a rating of Promise Kept. Another 25% were partially fulfilled, earning a rating of Compromise.

"Obama fared best in the areas of education and health care. He kept 54% of his education promises and 48% on health care. Most of those were muscled through Congress with the economic stimulus and health care law, which passed when Democrats controlled the House and Senate in the first half of Obama's term. He also kept a promise to end the war in Iraq, an issue that dominated the 2008 campaign.

More:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/01/17/obama-politifact-first-term-promises/1842083/

[cantbeserious]

49. Has He Stopped The Wars - Prosecuted Wall Street - And On And On ....

eom

[Ian David]

54. He just hasn't kept the promises that are most important to you, and to many of us.

But over-all, his track record has been one of keeping most promises.

I don't know how it would look if the promises were weighted by importance to his key constituencies.

[cantbeserious]

55. That's The Point - On The Most Important Issues - He Has Not Delivered On Expected Changes And Action

eom

[Ian David]

63. And some of those aren't his fault. For example, closing Gitmo.

However, if McCain or Romney had been elected and kept most of THEIR promises, we'd all be utterly fucked.

[woo me with science]

87. "The other guy would be worse." "He's not a king."

Last edited Mon Apr 22, 2013, 10:16 AM - Edit history (1)

The excuses don't fly anymore.

Corporate and bank-cozy appointments, over and over again, including major appointments like: a serial defender of corrupt bankers for the SEC; the architect of "Kill Lists" and supporter of torture, drone wars, and telecom immunity for the CIA; and a Monsanto VP who has lied and been involved in extremely disturbing claims regarding food safety for the FDA. An Attorney General who has not prosecuted a single large bank but wages war against medical marijuana users and *for* strip searches and warrantless surveillance of Americans. And let's not forget Tim Geithner.
Bailouts and settlements for corrupt banks (with personal pressure from Obama to attorneys general to approve them),
Refusal by Obama's DOJ to prosecute even huge, egregious examples of bank fraud (i.e, HSBC)
signing NDAA to allow indefinite detention,
"Kill lists" and claiming of the right to assassinate even American citizens without trial
Expansion of wars into several new countries
A renewed public advocacy for the concept of preemptive war
Drone campaigns in multiple countries with whom we are not at war
Proliferation of military drones in our skies
Federal targeting of Occupy for surveillance and militarized response to peaceful protesters
Fighting all the way to the Supreme Court for warrantless surveillance
Fighting all the way to the Supreme Court for strip searches for any arrestee
Supporting and signing Internet-censoring and privacy-violating measures like ACTA
Support for corporate groping and naked scanning of Americans seeking to travel
A new, massive spy center for warrantless access to Americans' phone calls, emails, and internet use
Support of legislation to legalize massive surveillance of Americans
Militarized police departments, through federal grants
Marijuana users and medical marijuana clinics under assault,
Skyrocketing of the budget for prisons.
Failing to veto a bipartisan vote in Congress to gut more financial regulations.
Passionate speeches and press conferences promoting austerity for Americans
Bush tax cuts extended for billionaires, then much of them made permanent
Support for the payroll tax holiday, tying SS to the general fund
Support for the vicious chained CPI cut in Social Security and benefits for the disabled
Social security, Medicare, and Medicaid offered up as bargaining chips in budget negotiations, with No mention of cutting corporate welfare or the military budget
Advocacy of multiple new free trade agreements, including The Trans-Pacific, otherwise known as "NAFTA on steroids."
Support of drilling, pipelines, and selling off portions of the Gulf of Mexico
Corporate education policy including high stakes corporate testing, charter/privatization and closures of public schools
New policies of targeting children and first responders in drone campaigns,
New policies of awarding medals for remote drone attacks,
Appointment of private prison executives to head the US Marshal's office
Massive escalation of federal contracts for private prisons under US Marshall's office
Legal battle against union rights of hundreds of thousands of federal workers
Billions for nuclear bombs in Europe
Warrantless search and seizure, and suspension of Miranda rights.

[Doctor_J]

110. well aren't you a turd in the koolaid bowl

He's gone from weak appeaser to enthusiastic accomplice. But gives a great speech after a disaster.

[byeya]

116. Excuses not only don't fly, they don't even taxi out to the runway

[cantbeserious]

93. Why Is It Acceptable To Live In A Country Where We Always Have To Choose Between Lesser Evils?

eom

[Doctor_J]

90. 47?

That qualifies as rare to me.

[Peregrine Took]

70. He has a special talent for shattering the hopes and dreams of his base.

Yet he runs to us whenever he is scared.

[jsr]

2. But sensible people agree our MIC is the most important thing in the budget

and shall not be touched.

[Poll_Blind]

3. What a nightmare this guy has turned into. What the fuck. nt

PB

[cantbeserious]

8. Agreed - Fool Me Once Shame On Me - Fool Me Twice - Don't Get Fooled Again - GW Bush

eom

[Peregrine Took]

71. Astoundingly true.

The exact opposite of the way I thought he was going to be.

[840high]

120. wtf is right.

[anotherone]

128. It's good

that people are being exposed to this administration's lies, by why has it taken so long for many to realize?

[SylviaD]

129. I am so disappointed, I'm sick. damn it. n/t

[OKNancy]

4. that article has an obvious editorial slant to it IMO

As I read it, nothing is set as a sure thing.

[dipsydoodle]

6. who is doing the "accusing"?

See 3rd paragraph.

"This will be a significant upgrade of the US nuclear capability in Europe," said Hans Kristensen, a nuclear weapons expert at the Federation of Nuclear Scientists. "It flies directly in the face of the pledges Obama made in 2010 that he would not deploy new weapons."

[OKNancy]

9. I re-read and didn't get my edit in before your response

I still think it's jumping the gun ( no pun intended) to start accusing, when all it says is the Air Force requested the funds. Does that mean it's actually going to be funded?

[dipsydoodle]

10. Part of a budget in some shape or form I guess.

The last few paras refer to some kind of associated deal.

[bananas]

91. I think that should be Federation of American Scientists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_M._Kristensen

http://www.fas.org/press/experts/kristensen.html

[xchrom]

5. du rec. nt

[SamKnause]

7. U.S.

If this surprises anyone you have not been paying attention.

The U.S. does not and will not abide by any law.

They are not members of the International Court of Law.

The U.S. does not abide by the Geneva Convention.

The U.S. does not hold their politicians or military brass accountable for their actions. (Invasions, occupations, coup attempts, backing coup attempts, financing coup attempts, drone attacks and interference of elections in foreign countries.) The list is endless of the dirty tricks that the U.S. will use to impose their might and force on countries.

The U.S. is a rogue nation that is hell bent on ruling the world by military force.

It is embarrassing to be an American.



Let the flaming begin.

[newfie11]

12. I agree with everything you said

And I too am embarrassed to be an American.

[darkangel218]

14. "it is embarrasing to be an American"

What stops you from leaving then?

Don't let the door hit you on your way out!!

[cantbeserious]

15. So You Are Proud Of America Today? - Trying To Understand This Point Of View

eom

[darkangel218]

17. Yes i am!

I love and will love my country no matter what x

Policies can be changed, and those who care about them should work on that instead of saying they're embarrassed to be Americans.

[cantbeserious]

18. We Will Have To Agree To Disagree - Our Points Of View Are Wildly Divergent - Enjoy The Cheerleading

eom

[darkangel218]

19. Whatever. nt

[cantbeserious]

21. Enjoy The Day!

eom

[darkangel218]

22. You too!

When youre not embarrased by your country.

[cantbeserious]

23. I Always Enjoy The Day - But Then I Am Not A Cheerleader For Indefensible Policies Or Politicians

eom

[darkangel218]

39. Im a cheerleader for my country.

Politicians are not everyone and everything this amazing country is.


Adios!

[cantbeserious]

43. We Can Tell - Too Bad One Is Not Willing To Learn And Expand Their Knowledge

eom

[darkangel218]

48. Yah. Like making a distinction between politicians and AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR LAND!

C ya.

[cantbeserious]

50. That Distinction Is Without Merit When The People Vote For Politicians Placating Corporations

eom

[bitchkitty]

126. This has got to be the most idiotic

thing I've read in weeks.

USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

[bahrbearian]

24. USA, USA, We're #1 , We're #1

fuck the rest of the World, We're #1

[cantbeserious]

26. The Most Honest Three Minutes Of Televison

[SamKnause]

37. Honesty

Indeed !

[PSPS]

33. LOL. "My country, right or wrong."

[Fuddnik]

47. Amerika: Fix it or fuck it!

[darkangel218]

51. Its a vast world and the borders are open.

No one is keeping anyone hostage here.

[cantbeserious]

58. And Under Corporate Control, Enabled By Corrupt Politicians - Who Can Afford To Leave - Only The 1%

eom

[darkangel218]

59. I dont know, you seem pretty unhappy here.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

[cantbeserious]

94. Dream On - In My America Cash Is King - If You Are The 99% - You Lose

eom

[darkangel218]

96. What stops you from leaving then?

[cantbeserious]

98. No Cash - I Am Not A Member Of The 1% - Just A Corporate Chattel Wage Slave Like Most Americans

eom

[darkangel218]

99. And if you.had money you.would leave?

Where would you go?

[cantbeserious]

102. New Zealand

eom

[darkangel218]

103. Nice country.

Try Florida, Daytona area. Kind of the same. Besides central FL is mostly blue right now.

[Sunlei]

113. You may dream of moving to NZ- better check to see if NZ even wants you.

here's a link to their immigration laws. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/

[cantbeserious]

114. As Said Upthread - Not Part Of The 1 % - I Am A 99% Corporate Slave - Not Going Anywhere

eom

[Fuddnik]

60. I'd rather all the blind cheerleaders leave.

People who will tolerate anything are the problem.

I was here first. You leave.

[darkangel218]

61. Lol no chance. Im happy here. You obviously arent.

[bahrbearian]

104. you should heed your own advice.

Please leave.

[markpkessinger]

122. People might be free to leave . . .

. . . but they aren't necessarily free to stay wherever they might go, so it's a rather meaningless point.

[truebluegreen]

75. GMTA.

[truebluegreen]

74. "I love and will love my country no matter what."

My country, Right or Wrong. Love it or Leave it.

Are you sure that's the right way to work for change? Seems to me having the capacity to admit embarrassment at our policies can go a long way toward rectifying past wrongs and preventing future ones.

First we have to admit that we have a problem.

[darkangel218]

76. The poster wasn't embarrassed because of policies.

He said he was "embarrassed to be an American'.

I have no.problem with criticizing policies, or politicians. But saying you're embarrassed to be American is pretty out there, don't you think?

[truebluegreen]

77. Yes. And No.

If you want to play with semantics you could make a case but I think it is as nonsensical to be embarrassed to be American as it is to be proud of it. Unless you are a naturalized citizen, it is not a choice you made.

But I don't think the poster was trying to say he was embarrassed of his birth, but rather of what America has come to stand for, and being a part of that, however small. I concur.

[darkangel218]

78. What politicians stand for at times, is not what the same with

What people stand for.

[truebluegreen]

79. Then I guess you have to agree that we don't live in a democracy

since the politicians don't stand for the same things we do.

Another reason to be embarrassed to be a part of it.

[darkangel218]

81. Lol. "we dont live in a democracy" , "embarrased to be part of it"

Then work on.changing it if you don't like it, don't say you're embarrassed that youre a citizen of this country. And like I said before , no one is forcing anyone to stay if they don't like it.

[truebluegreen]

86. LOL yourself. You make a lot of assumptions

and take a lot on yourself.

How would you know if I, or anyone else, am working to change it, or not? And who are you to decide what anyone else should, or should not, think or say?

You apparently are not well-acquainted with the ideals this country purports to stand for.

BTW, does it match your definition of a democracy when 80-90% of the people want a law passed, and our democratically-elected representatives won't pass it?

[darkangel218]

88. I am not debating democracy, I am debating someones

Distaint for their own country. Keep twisting the subject all you want, I have better things to do.

[truebluegreen]

100. The word is "disdain."

Your concern is noted.

[markpkessinger]

123. Part of the reason policies rarely get changed in any significant way . . .

. . . is that far too many in this country refuse to take the first critical step towards effecting such change: the open and honest admission of our collective errors, hypocrisies and failings and their ramifications. Whenever someone tries to initiate a serious discussion of the ways in which this country is failing to live up to its founding ideals, the "America, love it or leave it" crowd immediately chimes at the top of their lungs with just the kind of boosterism you are engaging in in this thread -- a boosterism borne not of patriotism, but of reflexive nationalism. And with that comes the none-too-subtle implication that those who are engaging in criticism of the country or its policies are somehow less-than-patriotic. Thus do we shield ourselves from having to honestly confront most of our collective demons, even as we continue to thump our collective chest about how wonderful we are. You say that those who care about policies should work on changing them. But in order to do that, one first has to engage the moral conversation, and that is exactly what people who say they are "embarrassed to be Americans" are trying to do.

You say elsewhere in this thread that America is its people, not the government. Well, in a representative democracy such as ours, that distinction really doesn't hold water, and as citizens we really cannot get away with hiding behind that artificial distinction in order to evade taking responsibility for what our country does. But apart from that, I will agree that "America is its people" in the same way I will agree that any other country is "its people." But do you really think we Americans are so existentially different from our fellow human inhabitants of the planet? In a form of government such as ours, the people are MORE, not less, responsible for the actions their elected leaders take on their behalf.

What you might try to understand is that when someone says they are "embarrassed to be an American," generally they are attempting to engage in one of those conversations we as Americans have become all too adept at avoiding. And in most cases, they are motivated by a deep belief in this country's founding ideals, and wish to see the country live up to and uphold those ideals. Indeed they believe that when America fails to live up to those ideals, it ceases to be the America it purports to the world to be.

You really might think about all of this a bit before you so smugly suggest people should leave.

[darkangel218]

124. Good points.

However, as with the current presidency, you think your elected officials not always keep their promise. One can work really hard to get someone elected, and be pointless in the end.
That is why I think, its a huge distinction between our people and our elected officials, although theoretically they're supposed to represent us When I met you I had another reason to smile Another reason to wake up and face the day Another reason to let go of the past and look to the future

But I wasn't good enough for you. I wasn't meek enough. I didn't shut up when you told me to.

Today I'm alone again. A blessing or a curse? A blessing perheps for seeing through your lies. A curse for I am again all alone.

Nevertheless, that's preferable to living in a lie.

All that being said, I marked this day on the calendar. As the day part of my soul died for you.

[SamKnause]

20. Reply

Are you proud of what this country does with your tax dollars and in your name ?

Do you even know the history of this country ?

Do you even care ?

Do you think the U.S. is always exceptional and right in everything they do ?

My father and uncle fought in WW ll, another uncle fought in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, my brother-in-law fought in the Vietnam War.

I am fifth generation.

Just because my government is criminal and corrupt does not mean I do not love my country.

The government is not my country.

[darkangel218]

27. Our goverment is not criminal.

Elected officials can be voted out and replaced!

DO You even know WHO America is? America is the people! Is the land for which your father and grandfather have fought! That's who America is, not its transient government or its policies you disagree with.

Your post made me nauseaus. I have nothing else left to say to you.

[cantbeserious]

28. Your Post Leaves "Me Nauseous" - The People Elect The Politicians - We Are Collectively Responsible

eom

[darkangel218]

32. Thats not what the other poster said.

My reply was to him/her. But feel free to be nauseated all you want by my support for my country.

[cantbeserious]

35. Cheerleading For An Empire Led By Corporations And Corrupt Politicians Is Nauseating

eom

[SamKnause]

31. Reply 2

You have nothing to say to me because you do not have a coherent argument.

I stated very clearly that I love my country and the government is not the country.

My late relatives who fought in many wars would be sickened to see what is happening in this country.

How many elections will it take to end the warmongering ?

Does it end when we have Republican control of the government ? NO !

Does it end when we have Democratic control of the government ? NO !

We do have a criminal government that is above the law.

I am sorry that you can not, or will not see or admit that.

[darkangel218]

36. Youre going back on your own words!

You said you're embarrased to be an American. Being an American is more than what decisions the government makes. You could've said you're embarrased by said decisions, but you went all in with your hate.

Like I said, I have nothing left to say to you. Have a nice life.

[crim son]

62. That response is no more attractive coming from a DUer than it was

when the FReepers used it during the shrub administration.

[darkangel218]

64. I take it youre "dissapointed to be an American" too.

I would dare you to say that to a Mexican immigrant for example, who is risking his life crossing the border just to be able to live in America.

Maybe is time for you and the others to look around and see how blessed you actually are. Politicians can be replaced. this magickal land and its people can not.

[awoke_in_2003]

82. all your talking points...

come directly from Rush.

[darkangel218]

83. And your accusations are laughable.

Since when loving your country makes one a limpaugh fan?

[awoke_in_2003]

85. America, love it or leave it...

has always been a reich wing talking point.

[darkangel218]

92. I dont listen to rw talking points.

I agree with love it or leave it. Love it enough to want to and try to change things you don't like. For someone who just gives up and says " I'm embarrassed to be an American" than yah, they might as well leave. Apparently they would be happy somewhere else.

[awoke_in_2003]

80. +1000. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

125. Thanks to that post

You're ignored.

Good riddance!

[SammyWinstonJack]

127. Love it or Leave it, eh?

[Newest Reality]

25. That sums it up ...

Though America is just the biggest, baddest boy on the block.

I assume you have been exposed to Chomsky, Zinn, et al? One cannot help but come to the conclusions you are relating here and people who have not taken time to focus on delving more deeply would find your embarrassment to be an affront to their manufactured perceptions and vague notions.

What's behind the curtain is irrefutable, though refuting it is, at least, a start since the mainstream is merely a pervasive and persistent Simulation created by the wizards of public relations and scripted persuasion.

I no longer feel "embarrassed" to be an American only because that is only the initial part of a process whereby you free yourself from identifying with arbitrary, symbolic means of manipulation which include vague notions of boundaries, borders nationalism, etc.

In that sense, this is an entire planet, organic and dynamic with only degrees of difference between land, shore, sea and mountain, all connected with changing, fuzzy lines.

In that sense, we are a species, an entire people, all seven-billion plus of us, who also live within conceptual boundaries that are dynamic, fuzzy, changing and subjective. There being no "actual" lines, somebody is bound to capitalize on creating symbols to give the illusions that bind us by whatever means possible into identifying with what is presented as if it were the absolute and inviolable truth of the Universe itself. Not so, ever!

Those are all the foundations for the results we are experiencing and, once explored carefully, they are seen for what they are, regardless of whether we like the result or find ourselves faced with conceptual dismay or experiencing a range of emotional discomforts as a reaction to discovery.

Thanks for summing it up, but do realize that you are also throwing rocks at the houses of the holy, though once the glass walls are broken much more can be seen outside the cage of belief and the conceptual shell with its imaginary hopes and fears.

[forestpath]

57. +1000

[Flatulo]

69. If you don't believe it can be fixed, you have options.

You can't renounce your citizenship while in the US, but if you go to Canada or Mexico and appear before a US consulate, you may do so.

http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_776.html

[darkangel218]

84. [phone]

[Beacool]

115. I think that you're all splitting hairs.

You can still love your country and be embarrassed by the actions of its government.

[NoodleyAppendage]

16. Or...as it should be titled, "Obama gives middle finger to Putin"

This move, I highly suspect, is in response to Putin's bellicose posture over a whole host of issues. I think the calculus has been made that only a firm, threatening posture is likely to get Putin's attention...when he's not too distracted gazing at his 6-pack stomach.

[Sunlei]

40. makes me wonder with the "bellicose posture" & 6-pack tummies we see all over the place these days,

That a lot of this behavior comes out of those newish, highly advertised tubes of testosterone creams.

[ucrdem]

30. How do new tailfins break a pledge not to deploy new weapons?

According to the article:

Under the plan, nearly 200 B61 gravity bombs stockpiled in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Turkey would be given new tail fins that would turn them into guided weapons that could be delivered by stealth F35 fighter-bombers.

New tailfins are not new warheads, or new weapons, so while I fully agree that our nuclear stockpile should be reduced if not eliminated, it looks like Obama is keeping to the letter and spirit of the 2010 review, and I'm not sure I see what Mr Kristensen is so exercised about.

[Sunlei]

34. I want our President to be adaptable to our ever changing World.

As thrifty as possible too, with Americans federal dollars. If they can upgrade rather than totally scrap/replace some technology, that's probably something he should support.

[cantbeserious]

38. Supporting Weapons Of Mass Destruction Is Something To Be Defended?

eom

[Sunlei]

41. no, I'd be happiest if we didn't use anything w/ the danger of radiation accidents.

But I have to have a level of trust in President Obama to do the right thing. Doesn't mean we can't question him of course.

[cantbeserious]

42. Agree On Questioning Him - He Has Lost My Trust

eom

[Sunlei]

46. That's a shame to live with no one you can trust, even a little

not sure what a eom is

[cantbeserious]

52. eom = End Of Message - On Trust, That Is The State Of America Today

eom

[bahrbearian]

53. So your good with spending billions on WMD's

I say scrap them, and give the money to the needy.

[Sunlei]

56. well lets see, we paid a contractor (a cheney war profit company?) 20 billion to air condition tents

in the Bush war. By ending that war as President Obama did and working some magic with the budget. Maybe, I hope that 20 billion does go to the needy

[UnrepentantLiberal]

66. Riiiight.

Is that what the White House spin is today? Can you inform the.president that only the Democratic base is buying this bullshit?

[Sunlei]

68. we did pay billions to air condition tents in Iraq, Bush even sent a billion in USA CASH to Iraq

and lost track of it. America was so out of control with the squandering of Americans federal money, and the local state funds money grabbers- it's a freaking miracle we manage as well as today.

We have a longgg way to go, but things could be much worse.

[Doctor_J]

89. every flip is another notch in his belt

To the sycophants,dinos,and morons. Will soon be regarded as the worst president in history.

[Ash_F]

45. Working overtime to see Republican gains in 2014 I see.

I didn't realize a nuclear arsenal was high on the popularity list with Americans. Do nukes rank above no gun background checks, cuts to social security and tax cuts for the rich, or below?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

67. They rank high on the list of Democratic candidates who need large campaign donations.

[OnyxCollie]

65. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Cal Carpenter]

72. So much for that Nobel Peace Prize

for nuclear disarmament.

[Flatulo]

73. The only value of nuclear weapons is as a deterrent, since they cannot ever be used.

A more accurate nuclear bomb is a better deterrent than a less accurate one. Either way, the nuclear bomb is still a nuclear bomb.

Unilaterally disarming is not a good idea.

[broadcaster75201]

95. The only thing that makes Obama look good are the #TeaBags

Obama is a Conservative ... pure and simple. What a disaster. But, no, I won't sit home in 2014 (I didn't in 2010 either). The GOP in charge is too horrifying to contemplate.

[ocpagu]

97. That's generally the problem with US elections.

Voters have to decide between a self-declared liberal who's in fact conservative, and a self-declared conservative who's in fact a potential mass murderer who should be locked in a dungeon under the Pentagon...

The left is rarely represented.

[blkmusclmachine]

105. Change You Can't Believe In!

[jsr]

106. Be reasonable

Do you want the terrorists to win?

[ucrdem]

107. More like headlines you can't believe in.

I honestly don't see how adding to tail fins to existing weapons can be considered a U-turn. Also, the article states that a) "The bigger, strategic versions of the B61, stockpiled in the US, would be discontinued," b) that further cuts are planned:

This spring, Obama was expected to make a speech outlining proposals to make further cuts to about 1,100 warheads. But US officials have said the crisis over North Korea and the time needed to install a second-term national security team have delayed the speech.

and c) that the tail fins are basically useless pork:

Joseph Cirincione, the president of the Ploughshares Fund, an arms control pressure group, said the B61 modernisation plans were largely driven by domestic political considerations . . . "I'm convinced the president wants to the continue his efforts to reform US nuclear policy," Cirincione said. "But the administration had a schizoid approach on this issue. They believe they have to buy off legislators with billions of dollars in expenditure in their states in order to get votes for arms control measures later."

So not maybe such a U-turn after all.

[Ash_F]

108. Billions of dollars in tail-fins.

Our tax dollars at work.

[Doctor_J]

109. so to hopefully get teabaggers on board with cuts later

Extraordinarily dumb, or complicit? You decide.

[ucrdem]

111. Cuts now: "The bigger, strategic versions of the B61 ... would be discontinued."

There's plenty to criticize but at least let's get the story right and not fall for every misleading headline.

[rug]

112. Didn't he gt the Nobel Prize for opposing nuclear weaponry?

[GreenStormCloud]

117. That will make nukes more useable.

So now we will have a nuclear bomb that will have military GPS accuracy to within a couple of feet of the target point.

One of the reasons that nukes haven't been used since WWII is that they cause huge collateral damage. They can only be used in total war. Their use in limited conventional war creates the risk (guarantee) of escalation. The B-61 can be set for various sized yields, from 340KT to a mere .3KT. That minimum setting is about the same size as the recent blast in West, TX. When combined with a bunker-buster casing that could become tempting to use it to get at a targeted underground facility.

This is a dangerous improvement in our capability.

[dipsydoodle]

118. By the USA 's own definitions and laws they are WMDs and hence illegal.

.

[GreenStormCloud]

119. True, but in war many laws are forgotten.

The hotter the war, the more laws get forgotten. We have already stated that if an enemy uses poison gas we will consider that the same as a nuke and respond with nukes.