Six years ago this month, Barack Obama, the then-new US President, journeyed to Prague to declare his desire for a nuclear weapons-free world. The strategic deterrent had already been an afterthought for 20 years, struggling to maintain funding or support from anyone not directly supporting the mission. The deterrent may as well be invisible to many in the military, members of Congress, and the American public. In early 2015, the Iranian nuclear program has gotten more attention in the US than the nation's own strategic deterrent. A deterrent only works if it is known to be effective and ready for use, but the American nuclear enterprise has long been underfunded and under-prioritized. A catch-up program is desperately needed. If enemies come to disregard the US deterrent, something critically important will be lost. Nuclear weapons provide essential insurance for the US, its interests and troops overseas, and even to its allies. Until 1945, massive and deadly state-on-state conflicts were the norm. Sixteen million people died in World War Ⅰ. Just two decades later, 60 million died in World War Ⅱ.
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