nuclear weapons policy Quotes

With regard to nuclear weapons, it's kind of hard to say. [Donald Trump] is said lots of things. The national security experts are terrified. But they're more terrified by his personality than by his statements.

As long as the two nuclear superpowers maintain arsenals in the tens of thousands of nuclear warheads, there is no way they can with any consistency urge that other nations not be allowed to acquire theses weapons.

I was seeing B-52s, they're old enough that your father, your grandfather could be flying them. We are not - we are not keeping up with other countries. I would like everybody to end it, just get rid of it. But I would certainly not do first strike.

The fact is, I see no compelling reason why we should not unilaterally get rid of our nuclear weapons. To maintain them is costly and adds nothing to our security. I can think of no circumstances under which it would be wise for the United States to use nuclear weapons, even in retaliation for their prior use against us. What, for example, would our targets be? It is impossible to conceive of a target that could be hit without large-scale destruction of many innocent people?

Mr. President, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke.

As the heated debate continues, it will be important that nonproliferation experts play a critical role in the discourse. Science-based statements, not snarky sound bites, should be the weapons of choice.

I'm not going to use nukes, but I'm not taking cards off the table.