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Thursday 14 sepTember 2017
Defense chief says US must keep all 3 parts of nuclear force

By ROBERT BURNS the Air Force promotes as
AP National Security Writer an always-ready fleet of
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. land-based missiles and
(AP) — Defense Secretary B-52 bombers equipped to
Jim Mattis said Wednesday deliver nuclear devastation
he has become convinced to nearly any point on the
that the United States must globe in short order.
keep all three parts of its The Minot base is home to
nuclear force, rather than more than 100 land-based
eliminate one, as he once nuclear missiles as well as
suggested. nuclear bomb-carrying
Some argue that ground- aircraft. After arriving at
based missiles may no lon- Minot, Mattis was flown by
ger be necessary to Amer- Huey helicopter to a “mis-
ica’s policy of deterrence, sile alert facility” and taken
and the Trump administra- underground to a Minute-
tion has been reviewing the man launch control cap-
military’s nuclear posture. sule.
Mattis has called the sub- He spoke to a missile launch
marine-based component crew on duty, including 2nd
“sacrosanct” and has said Lt. Tia Hewuse, who later
it is necessary to retain the told reporters that she ex-
ability to fire nuclear weap- pressed to Mattis her pride
ons from planes. In this June 13, 2017 photo, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, in serving as part of the na-
Together, those three while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Pentagon’s budget. tion’s nuclear deterrent.
prongs constitute what the As North Korea flaunts its new nuclear muscle, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is spotlighting the “It’s what keeps our ene-
overwhelming numerical superiority of America’s doomsday arsenal. On Wednesday, Sept. 13,
military calls its nuclear tri- he is dropping in on ground zero of American nuclear firepower: Minot Air Force base in North mies at bay,” she said.
ad. Dakota, home to more than 100 land-based nuclear missiles as well as nuclear bomb-toting Mattis also was touring a
Before he took over in Jan- aircraft. Minot facility where nuclear
uary as President Donald (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) warheads are stored, and
Trump’s Pentagon chief, to go,” Mattis said. Thus the U.S. will keep nu- others to separate but re- visiting with a B-52 bomber
Mattis had suggested that Mattis has previously in- clear missile submarines, lated arms treaties. That unit.
long-range, silo-based dicated this evolution in land-based nuclear missiles was an apparent reference Minot hosts the 91st Missile
weapons, known as inter- thinking, but his statements and nuclear-capable air- to U.S. allegations that Rus- Wing, which operates one-
continental ballistic missiles Wednesday were emphat- craft, he indicated. sia is violating the Interme- third of the nation’s 400
(ICBMs), might be expend- ic. Mattis also said the Trump diate-range Nuclear Forces Minuteman 3 missiles, as
able. The key to avoiding nuclear administration is reviewing treaty from 1987. well as the 5th Bomb Wing,
“I’ve questioned the triad,” war, he said, is maintaining the value of the New Start Mattis declined to discuss which flies those nuclear-
Mattis told reporters fly- a nuclear arsenal sufficient treaty negotiated with Rus- the matter further, except capable bombers.
ing with him to Minot Air to convince a potential sia by the Obama adminis- to say the administration is Minot in recent years was
Force Base, a nuclear base enemy that attacking the tration in 2010. The treaty, not considering withdraw- at the center of trouble in
in northwestern North Da- U.S. with a nuclear weapon already in effect, requires ing from New Start. the ICBM force, including
kota. He said his view has would be suicidal. reductions by both sides to Trump has criticized New lapses in morale, training,
changed. “You want the enemy to a maximum of 1,550 strate- Start as a bad deal for performance and man-
“I cannot solve the deter- look at it and say, this is im- gic nuclear warheads by America. agement. The Air Force has
rent problem reducing possible to take out in a first February. Mattis’ trip was scheduled made an effort since 2014
it from a triad. If I want to strike, and the (U.S.) retali- “We’re still engaged in before the recent series to correct those weakness-
send the most compelling ation is such that we don’t determining whether it’s of North Korean nuclear es, which had accumulat-
message, I have been per- want to do it,” he said. a good idea,” Mattis said, and missile tests. But those ed over a period of years,
suaded that the triad in its “That’s how a deterrent adding that the question test were giving Mattis a with little attention from
framework is the right way works.” is linked to adherence by chance to highlight what Congress.q

US agencies ordered to stop using Russian company’s software

By DEB RIECHMANN mittees are investigating cies 30 days to determine to provide assistance or department’s concerns.
Associated Press Russian meddling in the whether they are using intercept communications Kaspersky said the com-
WASHINGTON (AP) — 2016 presidential election. any Kaspersky products. transiting Russian networks. pany was happy to have
The U.S. on Wednesday Kaspersky said in a state- The software must be re- “The risk that the Russian an opportunity to provide
banned federal agencies ment that it was disap- moved from all informa- government — whether information to show that
from using computer soft- pointed by the directive tion systems within 90 days. acting on its own or in col- the allegations are un-
ware supplied by Kasper- and insisted “it does not “The department is con- laboration with Kaspersky founded.
sky Lab because of con- have unethical ties or af- cerned about the ties be- — could capitalize on ac- “No credible evidence
cerns about the compa- filiations with any govern- tween certain Kaspersky cess provided by Kasper- has been presented pub-
ny’s ties to the Kremlin and ment, including Russia.” officials and Russian intel- sky products (in order) to licly by anyone or any or-
Russian spy operations. Duke directed all U.S. fed- ligence and other govern- compromise federal infor- ganization as the accusa-
The directive issued by eral agencies and depart- ment agencies,” the di- mation and information tions are based on false al-
acting Homeland Secu- ments to stop using prod- rective said. systems directly implicates legations and inaccurate
rity Secretary Elaine Duke ucts or services supplied It said the department U.S. national security,” the assumptions, including
comes as various U.S. law directly or indirectly by the also is concerned about directive said. claims about the impact
enforcement and intelli- Russian-owned and oper- Russian laws that would The directive provides of Russian regulations and
gence agencies and sev- ated company. permit Russian spy agen- Kaspersky an opportunity policies on the company,”
eral congressional com- The directive gives agen- cies to compel Kaspersky to respond or mitigate the Kaspersky said. q