Text fwd: US Strategic Command Defends Nuclear, Space Weapons

* Informed in StopNATO*

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53561
U.S. Department of Defense
American Forces Press Service
March 18, 2009

Deterrence Still Key to National Security, General Says
By Samantha L. Quigley

WASHINGTON – Deterrence remains as central to America’s national security as
it was during the Cold War, U.S. Strategic Command’s top officer told the
Senate Armed Services Committee today.

“Our unique global perspective has given us a good platform for advocating for
the nation’s needs for missile defense; information operations; intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities; and the things we need to both
enhance our information operations and our planning for combating weapons of
mass destruction,” Air Force Gen. Kevin P. Chilton told the senators. “Your
support is critical to enabling successful execution across the command’s
assigned missions.”

Part of that mission is a strategic deterrence plan, which Defense Secretary
Robert M. Gates approved last year, Chilton said. The plan depends on many
pieces, including a safe, secure, reliable and sustainable nuclear enterprise,
command and control systems, ISR platforms and people.
....
“Many of our closest allies continue to rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella,”
he added. “This reliance should be considered as we look forward to address
nuclear proliferation issues.”
....
Space-based capabilities also are a concern for Stratcom, but the command has
made progress on this front in regard to its mission of deterrence.

“Space-based capabilities provide our nation and our forces essential, but
often unnoticed, abilities to act and operate,” Chilton said. “The satellite
constellations that carry these capabilities, however, require more careful
attention to eliminate delays that can leave us just one launch failure away
from an unacceptable gap in coverage in the future.”

Computer network communications has emerged as a key warfighting domain as well,
and it’s one on which all other domains in the warfighting environment depend,
he said.

“We remain concerned about growing threats in cyberspace, and are pressing
changes in the department’s fundamental network, culture, conduct and
capabilities to address this mission area and share our best practices,”
Chilton said. “Still, the adequate positioning of the cyber mission …
remains our greatest need.”
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