Wednesday, February 24, 2021

What is this all about ? Why are several Democrats in Congress asking that President Biden give up his sole authority to launch nuclear weapons during a national emergency

 

One of the alternatives suggested in a letter to the White House by several U. S.  Members of Congress would be to require other elected officials in the presidential line of succession to have an equal say in any orders to launch a nuclear attack  ---   specifically, the Vice President, Kamala Harris, and the Speaker of the House,  Nancy Pelosi >>> neither of whom could be removed from the process by the President if they should refuse to accede to a proposed launch order by POTUS



Saying that they wanted to reduce  >>> "REAL RISKS" <<<  nearly three dozen House Democrats this past Monday called on the Biden White House to relinquish the president's sole authority to launch nuclear weapons, in an appeal to reform the command-and-control structure so that no single person could initiate a nuclear war.  

Several  news sources have reported that  several Democrat Members of Congress have asked for the current U.S. President to give up his authority to order a nuclear strike. 

Under the current status of the laws and military policy  ---  if  POTUS orders a nuclear strike, the military must obey the order, unless it appears to be unlawful.  According to the letter, which had been joined by about three dozen Members of Congress:  “While any president would presumably consult with advisors before ordering a nuclear attack, there is no requirement [for any president] to do so....   [In any case,  the] military is obligated to carry out the order if they assess it is legal under the laws of war. Under the current posture of U.S. nuclear forces, that attack would happen in minutes....”


Is this just a routine radical reform proposal ?  Or might these thirty-plus congressional Democrats know that there is some kind of problem at the White House ???



11 comments:

Galewyn Massey said...

UPDATE & BACKFILL: THE "LID IS COMING OFF WRT TO JOE BIDEN'S COMPETENCE TO HOLD OFFICE" EDITION

TOP GOP SENATOR SAYS THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS REALLY IN CHARGE --- INSTEAD, IT LOOKS LIKE AOC AND NANCY PELOSI ARE IN CHARGE


According to an interview broadcast on Newsmax TV, Republican Senator Lindsay Graham unequivocally stated that >>> "No, I don't think Joe Biden's in charge...."

Graham told Newsmax TV host Greg Kelly that progressive policies on immigration, unwinding former President Donald Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy for those seeking asylum, ceasing the border wall and the Keystone XL Pipeline, and a $1.9 trillion "liberal wish list" that has "nothing to do with COVID" are not something an earlier more moderate Biden would have supported as a senator.

Anonymous said...

Gail, why no Brooklyn or Staten Island GOP news?

Galewyn Massey said...

RESPONSE: THE "TRAIN HAS LEFT THE STATION AND THAT SHIP HAS SAILED" EDITION

TO: "ANONYMOUS SAID... AT 11:22 AM"

HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED THAT ONCE A SHIP, TRAIN OR PLANE HAS DEPARTED >>> ITS INFORMATION IS SOON REMOVED FROM THE DEPARTURES BOARD..... IT'S NO LONGER NEWS OR EVEN NEWSY


In Brooklyn, the GOP left quite some time ago --- in Staten Island, the departure has been marked "DELAYED".....

In the minutia or the weeds --- does anybody really care about stuff like whether Leticia Remauro meant to say "Mein Fuhrer" and not "Heil Hitler" when trying to imply that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Cuomo were Fascists ???

I just don't think so.....

Besides, I'm back off to Florida soon, and that's what's more important to me.....


Galewyn Massey said...

UPDATE & BACKFILL: THE "REPUBLICANS KIDNAP DEMOCRATS' BIDEN CONCERNS" EDITION

UTAH'S SENATOR MIKE LEE WONDERED WHY SEVERAL DEMOCRAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WANTED TO TAKE THE NUCLEAR FOOTBALL AWAY FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN >>> ASKING WHO DID THEY REALLY WANT TO PUT IN CHARGE OF OUR NUCLEAR COUNTERFORCE, A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS ??? THEN HE SAID >>> LOOK AT THE GREAT JOB THEY DID PROTECTING THE CAPITOL


Noting that almost three dozen House Democrats signed on to a letter asking President Joe Biden to voluntarily give up his sole authority to launch nuclear weapons, Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee said he finds it "weird" that the rump group of Democrat House Members would suggest such a thing.

"The fact is, the president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.... This is why we subject presidents to a rigorous review process. They have to win the election. Once they won the election, you really do have to pick that horse and ride it and let the president be the commander in chief. It seems really weird to me that they want to take that away.... One can have one argument or another with regard to whether to what extent we are involved in foreign conflicts; and one could have one opinion or another about as to what point it is appropriate for Congress to declare war and have the president order discreet strikes...."

Senator Lee also questioned who would then get the power to control the "nuclear football" and its launch codes. "Who are they going to give that to? A committee run by Congress? In addition to being wildly unconstitutional, this would be horrible policy. Remember what happens when you put a committee in charge of protecting the Capitol? That didn't end so well, either."

Anonymous said...

The only GOP news from NYC is Bob switched to Colt 45.

Anonymous said...

Justin is cruising to re-election which means gales work is done.

Anonymous said...

The news is the Bronx & Queens GOP have endorsed Matteo for Mayor. No Cats support anywhere.

Anonymous said...

Nicole said on Fox News today that shes looking at running for Governor. And Nicole wants Cuomo to take a lie detector test. I see one of those things happening.

Galewyn Massey said...

UPDATE & BACKFILL: THE "THE STATE OF 'THE STATE OF THE UNION' THING UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN" EDITION

WHAT WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC --- THE NEED FOR CONGRESS TO PASS THE SO-CALLED "COVID-19 RELIEF BILL" --- THE PERCEIVED THREAT OF ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL IF THERE IS ANY JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS ANY TIME SOON --- OR NANCY PELOSI JUST NOT BEING IN THE MOOD TO HAVE TO SIT BEHIND JOE BIDEN WHILE HE WRESTLES WITH THE TELEPROMPTER

>>> NOBODY SEEMS IN ANY RUSH TO HEAR FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT "THE STATE OF THE UNION" THIS YEAR <<<



There are a few things for which the president is solely responsible, and the so-called "State of the Union Address" is one of them. It's up there with, let's say, the President's authority to launch a nuclear attack.....

President Biden’s delay in making such a public address to Congress and the rest of the nation is troubling for reasons other than the constitutional niceties. It gives rise to various notions and suspicions that Biden is not actually in charge of his own administration.

Biden's Inaugural Speech was long on the need for national “unity,” but said almost nothing about national policy.

Lately, whenever Presidential Press Secretary Jen Psaki is asked about what President Biden thinks about a particular issue, she often begs off the topic by saying that she has not spoken to the President about it; or much worse that she hasn't been in touch with the “team” on that topic. The latter response certainly communicates the idea that the country is being run by an executive committee, something like the politburo.

When there’s a leader in place, the leader makes speeches; and sometimes things even get done. When we don't even get the semblance of a "State of the Union" address, speech, report or whatever --- one does start to wonder about the "State of the President".....

Whether Biden delivers an address or not, he must still discharge his constitutional obligations, one of which is to make a report to Congress and the country. There is really no excuse for a report that is not delivered by the end of February. Or is there some reason President Biden is unwilling to face the American people and give a comprehensive report on "The State of the Union"?

Anonymous said...

Cats would squash Matteo in a primary.

Anonymous said...

I think the 'Mateo' running in the GOP Primary has one 'T' in his name.