Dozens of House Democrats have sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to relinquish sole control over the country’s nuclear weapons codes, citing “real risks” that could lead to an accidental or rogue launch.
“…Vesting one person with this authority entails real risks,” said the letter, which was led by California Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “Past presidents have threatened to attack other countries with nuclear weapons or exhibited behavior that caused other officials to express concern about the president’s judgment.”
“While any president would presumably consult with advisors before ordering a nuclear attack, there is no requirement to do so,” the letter further states. “The military is obligated to carry out the order if they assess it is legal under the laws of war. Under the current posture of U.S. nuclear forces, that attack would happen in minutes.”
The Democratic lawmakers listed several alternatives including a committee-style approach that would involve, perhaps, the vice president and the Speaker of the House, both of whom are in line for presidential succession and “neither of whom can be removed by the president if they disagree — to concur with a launch order.”
In a Monday tweet, Panetta wrote he is “calling on” the president “to install checks [and] balances in our nuclear command-and-control structure.”
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Originally Posted by carolina73
