2001 Nuclear Posture Review

2001 Nuclear Posture Review was a significant document released by the United States Department of Defense under the administration of President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The review aimed to reassess the United States' nuclear posture in the post-Cold War era, considering the emergence of new global threats, such as Al-Qaeda, Taliban, and North Korea. This review was conducted in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, which required the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive review of the United States' nuclear posture every four years, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry Shelton, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, George Tenet. The review also took into account the findings of the Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States, chaired by Donald Rumsfeld, and the National Intelligence Estimate on ballistic missile threats.

Introduction

The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review was a classified document, but its contents were later declassified and released to the public, providing valuable insights into the United States' nuclear strategy and policy, as outlined by President George W. Bush in his State of the Union address and National Security Strategy. The review was conducted by a team of experts from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Department of State, including Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Douglas Feith, and Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, John Bolton. The team consulted with various stakeholders, including Congress, NATO allies, such as United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, and other international partners, like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. The review's findings were also influenced by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START II), and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, as well as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was signed by United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Background

The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review was conducted in a rapidly changing global security environment, marked by the emergence of new threats, such as terrorism, cyber warfare, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as highlighted by the 9/11 Commission Report and the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. The review took into account the United States' experiences in the Gulf War and the Kosovo War, as well as the lessons learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Able Archer incident, which involved NATO Secretary General Manfred Wörner and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The review also considered the implications of the Russian Federation's Strategic Rocket Forces and the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, as well as the Indian nuclear tests and the Pakistani nuclear tests, which were condemned by the United Nations Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The United States' nuclear posture had to adapt to these changes, while also addressing the concerns of its allies, such as Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

Key Findings

The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review identified several key findings, including the need for a more flexible and adaptable nuclear force structure, as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences and the RAND Corporation. The review emphasized the importance of maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, while also reducing the number of nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), in accordance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I). The review also highlighted the need for improved command and control systems, as well as enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as outlined by the Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte. Additionally, the review recognized the importance of non-proliferation efforts, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty, which were supported by International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Nuclear Force Structure

The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review recommended a new nuclear force structure, which included a reduction in the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and bombers, as proposed by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office. The review also emphasized the importance of maintaining a triad of nuclear delivery systems, including land-based ICBMs, sea-based SLBMs, and air-based bombers, as recommended by the Air Force Chief of Staff, General John Jumper, and the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Vern Clark. The review also considered the potential for new nuclear delivery systems, such as hypersonic vehicles and advanced cruise missiles, which were being developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), led by Director Tony Tether.

International Reaction

The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review received a mixed reaction from the international community, with some countries, such as Russia and China, expressing concerns about the United States' nuclear intentions, as stated by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan. Other countries, such as United Kingdom and France, welcomed the review's emphasis on non-proliferation and disarmament, as noted by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and French Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine. The review was also criticized by some non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Federation of American Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council, which were led by Federation of American Scientists President Henry Kelly and Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke. The United Nations and the European Union also responded to the review, with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and European Union High Representative Javier Solana calling for further reductions in nuclear arsenals.

Conclusion

The 2001 Nuclear Posture Review marked an important shift in the United States' nuclear policy, as it recognized the need for a more flexible and adaptable nuclear force structure, as recommended by the National Security Council and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The review's findings and recommendations have had a lasting impact on the United States' nuclear posture, shaping its approach to nuclear deterrence, non-proliferation, and disarmament, as outlined by the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Energy. The review's emphasis on cooperation with international partners, such as NATO and the International Atomic Energy Agency, has also contributed to a more collaborative approach to addressing global security challenges, as noted by NATO Secretary General George Robertson and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei. As the global security environment continues to evolve, the lessons learned from the 2001 Nuclear Posture Review remain relevant, informing the United States' ongoing efforts to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent, as stated by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Category:Nuclear warfare