The US can and should lead in achieving a nuclear weapons free world

Comments on Ralph A. Cossa “The 2010 NPR: Toward a nuclear weapons free world”, 14/04/2010, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/04/14/the-2010-npr-toward-a-nuclear-weapons-free-world/

The NPR represents a significant progress on the nuclear weapons issue from the US and should be applauded and supported by all nations.

However, there are some issues that are equally important and should ideally be progressed further as quickly as possible.

For example, it is confusing or at least unclear what the fourth objective really means. This is especially when considering "‘strengthening regional deterrence and reassurance of US allies and partners.’ Again dashing some hopes, the NPR states that forward-deployed nuclear weapons will remain in Europe and that US extended deterrence in Asia will remain ‘credible and effective.’ The bottom line: ‘As long as regional nuclear threats to our forces, allies, and partners remain, deterrence will require a nuclear component.’"

Given that the US has so many advanced nuclear weapons and the means to launch them from the US that can achieve deterrence and security for its allies, what is the purpose to have them deployed in other parts of the world for deterrence?

More importantly, while it has a long term goal to eliminate all nuclear weapons, it lacks an ambitious, effective and practical strategy to do it.

Why can't the US, together with Russia as well as other nuclear powers, make that step faster and more tangible? For example, one option is to have the UN to control a small and limited nuclear weapons and a mechanism to deter any nuclear threat from any state and then eliminate all other weapons in all countries?

I think if the US is serious in eliminating all nuclear weapons, it can and should take big steps to do so. It has the ability to get the world behind it if it really wishes to do so.

Let's all work together to have a effectively nuclear weapons free world as early as possible!