A curious document published on the Internet - US Department of Defense manual on nuclear warfare. The text got into the global network allegedly by accident, but was it really?
It all started when, that the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States posted in the public domain, and then removed the new version of its official doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons. But the public copy of the document was saved. American analyst Stephen Aftergood tells, that the Pentagon report presents a strategy of using nuclear deterrence forces, their structure, organization of command and operations.
However many quotes from doctrine, saved by Aftergood, raise questions. What is it worth, eg, such a thesis:
The use of nuclear weapons can create the conditions for decisive results and restore strategic stability..
meanwhile, not so long ago, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report on the current state of nuclear forces of various states. The report emphasizes, what the US and Russia currently possess 9/10 global nuclear arsenal, which is gradually being reduced due to START-3, but declining not so fast, how could it be.
If both countries do not agree to extend START-3, which expires at the beginning 2021 of the year, then a new phase of the nuclear arms race could follow. Although Russia, and the US already suspect each other of a systematic violation of mutual agreements. Recall, that precisely such suspicions led to the termination of the INF Treaty, and now threaten the prospects for extending START-3.
So, US Department of Defense Intelligence Director (RUMO) Lieutenant General Robert Ashley Jr. directly recently accused Russia of not observing a moratorium on nuclear tests and emphasized, what is currently produced in the Russian Federation at least 1000 nuclear warheads per year.
American leadership, accusing Russia of a nuclear race, leads US public to conclude, that to deter a potential adversary, it is also necessary to strengthen and improve their own nuclear forces. President Donald Trump and his entourage use accusations against Russia to, to legitimize US actions to strengthen its nuclear power.
Publication of the official report, outlining a nuclear war strategy, in this case, it turned out just right. After all, American military analysts in this report consider nuclear forces as the most important means of deterring the enemies of the United States. The document also spells out the importance of developing nuclear forces., giving them flexibility, diversity, expand their ability to adapt to different situations.
It turns out, that the US military is dominated by a point of view, the exact opposite, what officials of civilian leadership say. So far, politicians have been discussing the reduction of nuclear arsenals and blaming Russia for, that she does not carry out this reduction, military convinced: only the preservation and further development of nuclear weapons can protect the interests of the United States of America.
Quite possibly, that the very appearance of a curious document in the global network was also the result of some political games of the American elite on the eve of such an important event as the expiration of START-3 and discussion of the prospects for its further extension or, conversely, refusal to renew.
Anyway, one thing is clear - the American state is not really going to reduce and weaken its nuclear potential, as it sees in nuclear weapons one of the most important means of confronting such potential opponents and competitors as China and Russia.
