Obama Announces New Nuclear Strategy, Critics Say U.S. More Vulnerable

Obama Announces New Nuclear Strategy, Critics Say U.S. More Vulnerable

President Obama has reversed 65 years of U.S. Nuclear policy and eliminated the nation's deterrence capacity.

There was a day when I would have been extremely pleased at news of this sort, say when I was seven or eight.

Now that I'm old, I find this news downright frightening. I believe it has emboldened our enemies and put America and the world at risk.

The United States has removed the threat of a nuclear response without getting anything in return. Furthermore, the president's decision has diminished the nation's ability to protect itself.

When I was young, I experienced countless sleepless nights worrying about the Soviet Union and nuclear war. When my head wasn't filled with mushroom clouds and radiation burns I was convinced the Russians were going to land in my backyard and snatch me out of my bedroom.

Now that I'm old I realize the reason why the Russians didn't attack America (Red Dawn style) and why we had avoided a nuclear war--we had nuclear weapons.

These powerful and devastating weapons don't start wars they prevent them. They don't take lives they save them.

Wisdom teaches that peace comes from being armed not from being unarmed. Deterrents always work, disarming seldom does.

So here's to the return of nightmares. The Russians invading and snatching myself from my bedroom is now a distinct possibility.

Where Fools Russian

Today, Russia recognizes the independence claims of two Georgian breakaway regions. Now you don’t have to be Old to have this Russian maneuver remind you of the old Soviet Union. You just have to be born before 1977. While the politics of this region are complex, the politics of Russia are even more confusing.

I wonder if half of the diplomacy in a situation like this is just understanding and dealing with the Russians. While I find their maneuvering preposterous, I can’t help but be mindful that the Russian people are not Americans. Their thought process is not like mine. What makes them listen? What makes them heedful? What are they thinking?

As the world gets smaller (something Old people absolutely hate) getting along with one another is going to be more about understanding than it is about making concessions.