LLAW’s All Things Nuclear #571, Saturday, (03/16/2024)
“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity”
LLAW’s CONCERNS & COMMENTS, Saturday, (03/16/2024)
Once again, in the following ‘optimistic’ story about submarines that carry nuclear weapons of mass destruction, we see how nuclear “deterrence” (meaning “fear”) is incredibly costly and is no better, but likely worse than broken agreements. Whether ‘deterrence’ stems from the air, on land, or underwater, it remains the same — useless. All we really have to rely on to avoid nuclear war, which would automatically lead instantly to WWIII, or Armageddon” (as it’s called in this article) is ourselves and our world-wide universal cooperative power of voice and the written word to demand our leaders to STOP. And the longer we take to speak out, the less likely our voices will ever be heard . . .
If just one nuclear armed nation drops a nuclear bomb via a missile or airplane, or uses invading troops and and ground-based tactical nuclear weapons, or eradicates a major city with nuclear armed submarines, “deterrence” instantly becomes useless regardless of how a nuclear weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is delivered. Like agreements, treaties, covenants, or any other pretense of world peace, does not ensure defense because in the nuclear war world there is no defense. Nuclear war is a synonym for annihilation ( or Armageddon if you prefer that word). There can be no ‘winner’ because we would all be equal ‘losers’, including Mother Earth and our fellow living critters of all kinds.
So, how pitiful it is that we continue to spend trillions of dollars that could be used for peaceful purposes, and everything else imaginable that we humans have including a life (that one would thing ought to be enjoyable) trying bassackwardsly to defend ourselves from weapons that cannot be defended against (except perhaps by a few anti-missile missiles), which would be useless in an actual all-out nuclear attack. And, as for ‘minor’ use of nuclear weapons (for instance, say, Russia on Ukraine), I have to wonder what country would be stupid enough to launch just ‘a little’ nuclear attack, because in a full scale nuclear war, all that minor attack would be is ‘outrageous’ and ‘intolerable’, and would be instant nuclear target practice for whatever kind of nuclear ‘armageddon’ is very shortly going to follow.
How on Earth does one get ready for the the nuclear “unthinkable” as used in the Headline of this article, even as such as it infers in this story. Nuclear armed submarines are a clever nuclear war weapon of mass destruction, but they are no different from missiles, airplane bombers, and so-called ground “tactical nuclear weapons” that are multiple times more powerful than those atomic bombs the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
There is only one way to avoid nuclear war weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear power plants), and that is to get rid of them before they get rid of us. And the only way to do that would mean that ‘World Peace’ has to come first. And I hope y’all go to bed tonight wondering how on Earth that will ever happen. ~llaw
The 'Armageddon base' where America's nuclear capability is ready for the unthinkable
A tour of the US Fleet Forces Command headquarters at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia provides a chilling glimpse of the power that lies beneath the waves
Beneath the ocean's tranquil surface lurk the silent titans of our age: nuclear submarines.
These leviathans have the power to transform bustling metropolises into irradiated wastelands in the blink of an eye.
Their most chilling aspect, however, lies not in their devastating might but in their ghost-like ability to glide unseen and undetected through the world's oceans.
As tension between the US and Russia continues to rise amid the war in Ukraine, Washington and Nato have voiced concern over increasing submarine activity in the Atlantic.
Deterring Moscow
"Russian submarines are the only existential threat to the United States, especially with their capabilities to remain undetected in the oceans," says Admiral Daryl Caudle, head of US Fleet Forces Command.
The National spoke to the admiral and other naval officers during a tour of US Fleet Forces Command headquarters at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the largest naval base in the world.
It is also known as the "Armageddon" or "Doomsday" base because it houses an unparalleled number of nuclear missile platforms.
The base is a port for 18 American submarines, most of which are equipped to carry nuclear warheads.
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Admiral Caudle told journalists that Moscow, despite its "significant economic problems", has concentrated on building "strategic capabilities for its nuclear submarines and developing space programme capabilities".
According to Global Firepower, Russia has 65 submarines, making it the world's largest submarine-operating country.
It is believed that the Russian Navy has about 21 nuclear-powered submarines, including eight strategic and 13 nuclear-powered attack vessels, along with some diesel-powered models.
The US, meanwhile, has 64 nuclear-powered submarines.
"We know their [Russian] submarines can operate under the ice in their patrol areas, and their missiles can reach almost anywhere in the world, which is naturally a source of concern as well," Admiral Caudle says.
Deterrence, he emphasises, is the only way to counter this threat.
US Strategic Command plays a role in this through "deploying our own set of ballistic missile submarines through an extended deterrence model, and we can extend deterrence to include additional threats as well".
"This is the naval component of the nuclear triad," Admiral Caudle says.
The nuclear triad, known as the Tripartite Nuclear Deterrence Strategy, refers to the US strategy that relies on three types of nuclear weapon launch systems: intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), strategic bombers and nuclear submarines.
The US has three types of attack submarines: the Los Angeles class SSN 688, the Seawolf-class and the Virginia-class SSN 774.
The Virginia is expected to be the backbone of the US submarine fleet until about 2070.
The purpose of the triad is to ensure the US has several independent means of launching a nuclear attack, thus increasing the difficulty of completely disabling the state's nuclear capability.
Threats abroad
"Maritime security requires a continuous presence in the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the High North and the Atlantic Ocean, around Africa and of course in the Arabian Gulf," Admiral Caudle says.
"This is our mission in Nato."
The Gulf has become an increasing area of concern for the US, as Yemen's Houthi rebels continue to launch attacks on commercial shipping lane in the Red Sea.
While the Houthis are far from possessing nuclear capabilities, their close alliance with Iran, which is widely believed to have the ultimate goal of building a nuclear weapon, has many countries on high alert.
As to tension with Russia, which has also become more aligned with Iran militarily, Admiral Caudle says that US naval patrols are conducted in the Baltic Sea to ensure security in the vital area.
This encourages co-operation with new partner states Sweden and Finland, as well as Germany and the Baltic states.
Training and technology
The US submarine fleet comprises about 54 per cent of the country's nuclear deterrence arsenal.
Submariners undergo rigorous training and must meet high standards to qualify for service.
The intense training is needed for using advanced technology in the latest submarines, such as the Virginia-class vessels.
Commander Brian Rhoades, commanding officer of the Submarine Learning Facility Norfolk, told journalists that training helps submariners learn to work in harsh conditions and simulates real combat situations.
Training at the centre is mainly conducted on Virginia-class models.
The new generation is equipped with advanced cameras, remote sensing and eavesdropping devices, in addition to traditional sonar.
But the periscope, one of the distinctive features of traditional submarines, will remain, as significant improvements provide a panoramic view of the surface when the vessel is under water.
Deterrence in the Pacific
US, UK and Australia announce joint security initiative
In September 2021, the US, the UK and Australia signed a security agreement, Aukus, under which Canberra will acquire nuclear submarines for the first time, despite it being a non-nuclear state.
The agreement was aimed at countering China's rising military influence in the Pacific Ocean, with tension increasing with neighbours Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, in addition to Taiwan.
“One of the reasons we agreed to proceed with Aukus ... is that we see it as a means through which we can help ensure safety and security in the region, and also for peace in the Indian and Pacific oceans," Bonnie Jenkins, US undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, told The National.
After the signing of the agreement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the three nations of engaging in “hegemonic practice” and said the deal demonstrates a “Cold War mentality” towards China.
Beijing has also accused Aukus of undermining nuclear non-proliferation agreements.
But Ms Jenkins emphasised that the agreement did not breach the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty "in any way".
"Australia will not develop any nuclear weapons. It will not acquire nuclear weapons. It will not enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel," she said.
"We will ensure that everything we provide to Australia cannot be used in a way that enables them to use nuclear fuel to make a nuclear weapon."
Updated: March 15, 2024, 11:08 AM
ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO “LLAW’S ALL THINGS NUCLEAR” RELATED MEDIA:
There are 6 categories, including a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that play an important role in humanity’s lives, as do ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links in each category about the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
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Nuclear Power
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A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.
TODAY’S NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS (03/16/2024):
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Servicemembers, current and retired, renew push to rename the USS John C. Stennis
KUNM
All Things Considered. Next Up: 7:00 PM Iyah ... In office from 1947 to 1989, he earned the title father of the modern Navy, voting to approve nuclear ...
Focus at Four: The “atom smasher” at Texas A&M Celebrates 60 years - KBTX
KBTX
“Besides the nuclear ...
Servicemembers, current and retired, renew push to rename the USS John C. Stennis
KUNR
Stennis was also an ardent segregationist. He fought everything from the Voting Rights Act to creating a national holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther ...
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Commentary: Nuclear Energy Is the Only Way to Achieve Maine's Climate Goals
The Maine Wire
SMRs advantages allow them to be installed at locations where sprawling nuclear plants would not be feasible, while still producing carbon-free power.
Nuclear power in Australia — a silver bullet or white elephant? - ABC News
ABC
Our fleet of coal plants is falling apart, forcing us to rethink our power supply and consider an urgent question for both climate and energy ...
Weekly Mailbag: Your Most Pressing Nuclear Energy Questions | Rogue Economics
Rogue Economics
SMR stands for small modular reactor. SMRs are nuclear reactors designed to be scalable, flexible, moveable, and capable of producing electricity ...
Nuclear Power Emergencies
No stories Posted
Nuclear War
NEWS
Putin warns again that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons | News - Lebanon Reporter
Lebanon Reporter
... nuclear war. Asked in an interview with Russian state television if he has ever considered using battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Putin ...
Putin's Latest Nuclear Messaging: Softer Tone or Threat of Use? - Russia Matters
Russia Matters
“Putin, in Pre-Election Messaging, Is Less Strident on Nuclear War. The Russian leader struck a softer tone about nuclear weapons in an interview ...
Don't rule out troops to Ukraine, Finnish FM says - POLITICO
Politico
... nuclear war with the West. But Ukraine's soldiers have been struggling ... It also comes as Democrats' patience with Israel has worn increasingly thin ...
Nuclear War Threats
NEW
The 'Armageddon base' where America's nuclear capability is ready for the unthinkable
The National
... threats as well". "This is the naval component ... nuclear attack, thus increasing the difficulty of completely disabling the state's nuclear capability ...
From Khrushchev to Putin, Russian's Reflexive Control theory has alarmed NATO - Firstpost
Firstpost
The Russian President's repeated threats of using a tactical nuke in the Ukraine war have achieved their objectives to an extent by dissuading ...
Germany, France and Poland pledge to escalate war with Russia at Berlin summit - WSWS
WSWS
The threats of Macron, Scholz and Tusk are accompanied by a vast NATO ... NATO plans for troop deployments in Ukraine threaten nuclear war. 10 ...
Yellowstone Caldera
NEWS
NASA's bold plan to 'save humanity' from existential 'threat' of Yellowstone eruption
Daily Express
The space agency is racing against time to prevent the lethal fallout that would occur in the event of an eruption at Yellowstone supervolcano.
Biden Hands $2.6B To Our Favorite Caldera Owner - Energy & Capital
Energy & Capital
... Yellowstone Supervolcano. Last summer, during a geological survey of the caldera's remnants, this giant funnel of long-cooled Earth's innards ...
Actor Pierce Brosnan fined for Yellowstone off-path hike - FOX 10 Phoenix
FOX 10 Phoenix
... Yellowstone Caldera or a smaller heat source, according to the NPS. 7 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. e59fcb31-3f99-430a-be23 ...