Weapons Complex Monitor Vol. 31 No. 17
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Morning Briefing
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March 17, 2014

AIR FORCE GENERAL: RESERVE STOCKPILE RIPE FOR CUTS

By ExchangeMonitor

In a potential glimpse into the Obama Administration’s plans to reduce the nation’s nuclear stockpile, a top Air Force official told the Boston Globe yesterday that the U.S. could move to cut from its reserve stockpile of nuclear weapons. “We have more backup systems in terms of weapons systems than we actually have deployed,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told the Globe in a recent interview. “Some of that is a reasonable hedge [but] there is probably room for reductions.” Schwartz didn’t provide any details about the Administration’s plans, but reports have indicated that the Administration has analyzed as part of its Nuclear Posture Review implementation study reductions to its strategic deployed stockpile as low as 300 to 400 nuclear weapons. Schwartz’s suggestion appeared to deal with the nation’s thousands of reserve nuclear weapons, which are not covered by any arms control treaties or international agreements.

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NEW: Via public records request, I’ve been able to confirm reporting today that a warrant has been issued for DOE deputy asst. secretary of spent fuel and waste disposition Sam Brinton for another luggage theft, this time at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid airport. (cc: @EMPublications)

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