On the recordDecember 19, 2010
I would like to observe that this treaty encompasses fairly modest reductions in our strategic force. We are looking at ICBMs reduced from 450 to 420 and in some cases those ICBMs being reduced in terms of the number of warheads they are carrying--modest reductions. When we look at some relaunch ballistic missiles, we are looking at a fleet of 14 Trident submarines, and we are looking at keeping all 14 of those, reducing the number of silos on each submarine from about 24 to 20--again, a modest reduction. Indeed, two of those subs will be in drydock at any one point in time, and they do not count against the numbers in this treaty. In bombers, we are looking at 18 Stealth missiles currently--Stealth bombers, and keeping all 18--or B-2s, as they are known. We look at modest reductions in our aging, ancient, antique fleet of B-52s, modest reductions there. In its entirety, what this represents is modest changes to the existing structure negotiated by a Republican administration and maintenance of verification regimes incredibly important to our national security.
