We strongly protest against the decisions now taken in the American Congress to revive research and development programs concerning nuclear weapons. There is no justification for such policies. All arguments are against:
Reviving American nuclear weapons development justifies actions taken by other governments to develop nuclear weapons. It thus promotes proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear weapons have no place in modern security planning. The new threats come from terrorist groups and networks, and these cannot be fought with nuclear weapons. Unstable and “evil” governments are best handled with diplomatic cooperation and actions from the international community.
Revived nuclear weapons development also endangers the process of dismantling existing nuclear arsenals. Further nuclear armament is a threat to world peace.
The enormous cost of weapons development should be used instead for international aid and cooperation, to counter the causes of conflicts and divisions in the world.
Over the past 50 years, the United States has claimed a position of moral leadership in a war-torn world. We must not lose sight of the fact that the validity of such a claim is inevitably decided not by the United States, but by its beholders. The policy these above-mentioned decisions represent gravely undermines both the credibility and the legitimacy of any claim to moral leadership.
We strongly urge the American government to step down from this new policy
of further nuclear armament.
Stockholm 2003-05-28
Kjell Andersson, Chairperson,
Folkkampanjen mot kärnkraft-kärnvapen