On the recordDecember 16, 2010
I will be happy to respond to that. Let me respond first by quoting two key officials from the Obama administration: Secretary Gates and Under Secretary of Defense Jim Miller. This is what I gather their decision is going to be based on. First, Secretary Gates: There are placeholders for each of the modernization programs because no decision has been made. They are basically to be decided, and along the lines that Admiral Mullen is just describing, those are decisions we are going to have to make over the next few years in terms of we are going to have to modernize these systems and we are going to have to figure out what we can afford. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Jim Miller: We think the current ICBMs are extremely stable and stabilizing, particularly as we de-MIRV to one warhead each. I would interject, remember, we are doing that while the Russians are MIRVing, which, of course, creates more instability under this treaty. But to go on with the quotation: But we will look at concepts that would make them even more survivable over time, which would allow them to be part of a reserve force.
