The Congressional Strategic Posture Commission Report and a Brief Assessment of Developments in U.S. Strategic Policy

Abstract

The bipartisan Congressional Strategy Posture Commission offered numerous recommendations to reduce what it labeled “the nuclear danger.” The Obama Administration has pursued some of these recommendations via its policy documents, such as the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, its budgets, and plans. There is reason, however, for several concerns in this regard. These involve the high priority placed on nuclear force reductions at the potential expense of other national goals, including deterrence and assurance; the maintenance of the flexibility and resilience of the U.S. force posture necessary to meet deterrence and assurance requirements now and in the future; continued support for U.S. strategic defensive capabilities given Russian opposition; and apparent interest among some in the Administration to move increasingly toward what has been termed a policy of Minimum Deterrence.