Justin Salhani — The ‘Insane’ Plan For More Useable Nuclear Weapons

A new and controversial report arguing for the production of low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons by the U.S. released by a noted D.C. think tank has drawn heavy criticism from field experts, including one of the report’s coauthors, who labeled the report’s conclusions as “reckless” and “insane.”

The report, released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and entitled Project Atom: A Competitive Strategies Approach to Defining U.S. Nuclear Strategy and Posture for 2025–2050, was produced by nine coauthors from four think tanks but the conclusions drawn were solely that of the CSIS’ Clark Murdock.

“In order to execute its Measured Response strategy, the nuclear forces for both deterrence and extended deterrence should have low-yield, accurate, special-effects options that can respond proportionately at the lower end of the nuclear continuum,” Murdock writes in the report.

Feel safer?

Think Progress
The ‘Insane’ Plan For More Useable Nuclear Weapons
Justin Salhani