Ret. STRATCOM Commander Supports Obama's Nonpro Agenda

Retired General Eugene Habiger (USAF) has a great op-ed in The Hill. Gen. Habiger is one of the military's most experienced nuclear experts. He was, among other impressive posts, Commander in Chief of United States Strategic Command, where he was responsible for the military strategic nuclear weapons and supporting the national security strategy of strategic deterrence.

Some highlights from his op-ed:

President Obama took some bold steps when he spoke at the United Nations last month. Like every president since Truman, he understands the consequences of miscalculation and complacency in the nuclear age. He warned, “If we fail to act, we will invite nuclear arms races in every region, and the prospect of wars and acts of terror on a scale that we can hardly imagine.”

I could not agree with him more. For most of my military career, I worked in the nuclear weapons arena, first as a crew member on a B-52 bomber as bomb squadron commander, then as a commander of two nuclear bomb wings; the Inspector General of the Strategic US Air Command and finally the Strategic Command. As commander-in-chief of STRATCOM, I was responsible for all U.S. nuclear forces supporting our nation’s security through strategic deterrence, and was the president’s top military advisor on these issues.

I know from my unique experience that in order to keep our military strong and our country safe, we need to rethink the role nuclear weapons play in our national security and defense strategies in the radically different post-Cold War environment of the 21st century.

This is not a partisan issue. This is about keeping the American people safe, and it is long overdue. While we have made some progress in the twenty years since the end of the Cold War, over 20,000 nuclear weapons remain in the possession of nine nations around the world. While numbers like these brought comfort to some at an earlier time, in our post-9/11 world they have the potential to bring grave danger to all. Aggressive steps to reduce these weapons will help prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists. While we have a long road ahead of us, I am cautiously optimistic that we can achieve this goal.

Another important point that he makes, that often gets ignored by those who do not closely follow the debate, is that nonproliferation efforts are in keeping with traditional American foreign policy.

To some President Obama’s remarks at the United Nations on arms control and nonproliferation may have seemed new. Yet the drive towards a nuclear weapons-free world is almost as old as the bombs themselves. And as threats have evolved and the strategic landscape has shifted, a growing sentiment in the national security establishment has made possible a new approach for the 21st century.

And he rightly calls on congress to pass on a the both the START follow-on and CTBT:

A critical part of moving forward will be support from home. With the very security of our nation at stake, the time for partisan games is over. The recommendations of the forthcoming Nuclear Posture Review should reflect the operational necessities of today’s military. And the Congress should prepare to work with the President on the follow-on to START and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

NOTE: I have been unable to find the original article on The Hill website. Will update with a link as soon as I find it.