Statement by Senator Dianne Feinstein

Concerning the Administration's emphasis on developing
'low-yield' nuclear weapons

April 29, 2003

"As the United States contemplates the new international order in the wake of the war in Iraq and engages diplomatically with North Korea to convince that nation to relinquish its nuclear ambitions, it is critical that the United States leads the way in both word and deed to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

I am therefore deeply concerned that the Administration's renewed emphasis on the developing so-called 'low-yield' nuclear weapons is taking our Nation's policy in exactly the wrong direction. This includes possibly repealing prohibitions on developing 'low-yield' bombs and deep-penetration 'bunker-busters,' and contemplating giving nuclear armaments a role in the new U.S. doctrine of preemption

According to press reports, the Nuclear Posture Review released by the Administration in January 2002 by the Pentagon states that 'new capabilities must be developed to defeat emerging threats.... Development of these capabilities, to include extensive research and timely fielding of new systems to address these challenges, are imperative....'

And the minutes of the January 10, 2003 Stockpile Stewardship Conference Planning Meeting indicate that in August the Future Arsenal Panel plans to discuss computer modeling for new nuclear devices, and what sort of testing, if any, will be required.

In the post-9/11 era, there is no question that a full range of policy options for dealing with new and uncertain contingencies should be on the table. But I am concerned about the appearance of the United States seeking to develop nuclear weapons that blur the distinction between conventional and nuclear forces. How can we effectively seek to dissuade others from developing nuclear weapons while we are going forward with the development of new nuclear weapons ourselves?

The bottom line is that the development of these new nuclear capabilities would offer the United States no decisive military advantage while having potentially grave repercussions for U.S. interests around the world. The political effects of U.S. pursuit of new nuclear weapons could well be to legitimize nuclear weapons, and U.S. nuclear planning could serve as a pretext for other countries and, worse, terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, to build or acquire their own bombs.

If we are not careful, our own nuclear posture could provoke the very nuclear-proliferation activities we are seeking to prevent."