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Former Defense Secretary Derides 'illegal' Nuclear Policies
By Justin M. Norton Associated Press Writer
Published: Mar 9, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Former defense secretary Robert McNamara said Wednesday the United States and global nuclear powers haven't adhered to nonproliferation treaties and have done little to reduce nuclear arsenals following the end of the Cold War.
Speaking about U.S. and NATO nuclear policies at the World Affairs Council, the Vietnam-era defense secretary said the United States and other nuclear powers like Russia and China have pursued policies that are "illegal and immoral."
"A decade after the Cold War, the basic U.S. nuclear policy has not been changed," said McNamara, 88, adding that he believed "every leader of a nuclear power should be present at a detonation."
The remarks come as the Bush administration grapples with the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to discuss North Korea during an upcoming trip to South Korea followed by visits to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
China is heading stalled six-way talks to deter North Korea from building a nuclear weapon. North Korea has refused to return to the talks for now.
McNamara said the United States has continued to pursue an aggressive nuclear policy, including plans to update or enhance existing nuclear weapons and construct devices like "bunker busters" and "mini-nukes." He added that Russia still has scores of nuclear weapons pointed at the United States, many with antiquated operating systems.
"We have absolutely got to get rid of these weapons or reduce them to the degree that there is no chance of destroying nations," he said.
McNamara added that the threat of terrorists using a nuclear device could be reduced if the United States in particular tried to understand terrorists' anger and motivations.
McNamara served as defense secretary in both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations - he resigned as Johnson's defense secretary as public opposition rose to the Vietnam War - and was also president of the Ford Motor Co. and the World Bank.
Recently featured in the film "The Fog of War," McNamara was a prominent figure in the foundation of early U.S. nuclear weapons strategy. He was later criticized for his role in Vietnam by both veterans and the anti-war movement.
Itsthetruth said:It's not Grenada! Ronald Raygun was able to overthrow a government which had just overthrown the Maurice Bishop government that Reagan had opposed!
The man was as smart as a Bush or shrub.
Now George Bush junior has overthrown a government in Iraq that opposed Osama bin Ladin in order to fight bin Ladin in Iraq where his followers hadn't been before!
What can I say? The man is brilliant. Osama must be his biggest fan.
What's Bush going to do for an encore? Perhaps propose "fixing" Social Security? Yikes! Hang on to your wallets and lock the doors!
Would you want that man handling your bank accounts?
manu1959 said:is the choice between him and you? he has millions and is president....how you doing?
Itsthetruth said:It's not Grenada! Ronald Raygun was able to overthrow a government which had just overthrown the Maurice Bishop government that Reagan had opposed!
The man was as smart as a Bush or shrub.
Now George Bush junior has overthrown a government in Iraq that opposed Osama bin Ladin in order to fight bin Ladin in Iraq where his followers hadn't been before!
What can I say? The man is brilliant. Osama must be his biggest fan.
What's Bush going to do for an encore? Perhaps propose "fixing" Social Security? Yikes! Hang on to your wallets and lock the doors!
Would you want that man handling your bank accounts?
krisy said:When did Saddam Hussein say he was against Osama? If your hinting that he would have been any help,I think we both know your wrong. And YOU are going to insult Ronals Reagan,lame! I guess things would have been better if he would have just let communism go unopposed.
krisy said:When did Saddam Hussein say he was against Osama? If your hinting that he would have been any help,I think we both know your wrong. And YOU are going to insult Ronals Reagan,lame! I guess things would have been better if he would have just let communism go unopposed.
Sir Evil said:The worm returns! call me out and you better stick to it boy, get on it or take a hike!
Itsthetruth said:Osama bin Ladin called for the overthrow of the Iraqi regime because they were not a right-wing fundamentalist Islamic government. It was a secular regime. And Osama's outfit was not permitted to operate in those areas of Iraq that were fimly under the control of Sadam's government.
There was hardly any love lost between Sadam and Osama. Everyone informed person knows that.
And Ronald Raygun. Raygun claimed he just didn't know what in the hell was going on in his government .... for example, the trading guns for hostages deal. Perhaps he didn't! But, that invasion of Grenada was a real master stroke! I guess he just didn't know that the government he wanted to overthrow (Maurice Bishop) had already been overthrown before a single GI had hit the beaches!
Itsthetruth said:Osama bin Ladin called for the overthrow of the Iraqi regime because they were not a right-wing fundamentalist Islamic government. It was a secular regime. And Osama's outfit was not permitted to operate in those areas of Iraq that were fimly under the control of Sadam's government.
There was hardly any love lost between Sadam and Osama. Everyone informed person knows that.
musicman said:Itsthetruth's fact-finding and debating skills are prime examples of the intellectual atrophy fostered by boards like DU. While anyone even hinting at unorthodoxy is banned at DU's gate, the most preposterous, unfounded tripe passes as regular discourse - unchallenged, reinforced, and further weakening a herd that was stumbling about on spindly legs to begin with.
At USMB, you'd better be able to back up what you say, even if the majority are in agreement with you. Try to throw bullshit around here, and someone will call "bullshit" on you before you can turn around. The level of debate is high, and we police ourselves mercilessly for accuracy.
Come to think of it, DU vs. USMB is kind of like the LMM vs. the blogosphere in microcosm!
KLee said:Well Said MM!
Let's not forget about the funny stuff...musicman said:Thanks, K - and your intelligent, thoughtful posts are prime examples of what's great about USMB!
JOKER96BRAVO said:Let's not forget about the funny stuff...
Sir Evil said:Why would I?
Because he canItsthetruth said:Since you don't have an opinion you'd like to share with everyone on the subject matter why in the world are you posting in this string? That just doesn't make any sense.
That's why he can....Sir Evil said:Look little guy, this is my board and I can pretty much post wherever I like! You have yet to create a thread of credibility or accept my challenge to debate. Calle me out and you better be ready, don't waste my time.
Itsthetruth said:Since you don't have an opinion you'd like to share with everyone on the subject matter why in the world are you posting in this string? That just doesn't make any sense.
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