Alabama’s Senators are stepping in after reports that President Obama is considering a rule that would force future American generations to withhold a nuclear option unless the country is attacked first.
In a letter sent to the President, Senators Sessions and Shelby call on Obama to protect the interest of national defense by rejecting the plan outright.
“While no American wishes to employ nuclear weapons in conflict, establishing a no first use policy would weaken the nation’s security and make the world less safe by crippling America’s deterrence posture–a stabilizing agent for the cause of peace across decades–and further incentivize allies and enemies alike to develop nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them,” the letter states.
The president’s latest national security policy consideration comes amid reports that nations like Iran and North Korea are quickly advancing their nuclear capabilities. In response, the letter points to growing hostility of foreign nations that would seek to take advantage of a weak American defense policy.
“As you are well aware some hostile countries possess biological, chemical, and radiological weapons that have the potential to kill scores of Americans or allied citizens” the letter continues. “Terrorist organizations actively seek the expertise to build their own weapons and steal material from countries that possess it. It would be exceedingly unwise to forgo the option of a nuclear strike against such enemies to end a conflict on terms favorable to the United States and our allies.”
The letter, sent on September 22, included the signatures of former presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. Other well-known conservative leaders like Senators Tom Cotton (R- Ark.), and Joni Ernst (R- Iowa) also signed on.
This is not the first time Alabama’s leaders have worked to halt detrimental nuclear policy. Last year, all six House members of the Republican Congressional Delegation urged the President to take action that would prevent Iran from obtaining a bomb.
