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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Re: Wisdom of European Heads of State
Message-ID: <364@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Nov-84 12:08:21 EST
Article-I.D.: whuxl.364
Posted: Mon Nov 26 12:08:21 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Nov-84 11:41:43 EST
References: <106@talcott.UUCP> <679@erix.UUCP> <2797@ucbcad.UUCP> <358@whuxl.UUCP> <419@fisher.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs
Lines: 39

> But the West Germans don't WANT a key to the new Cruise missiles and
> Pershings! Such a move would defeat the purpose of attempting to "link"
> US and European nuclear defenses: the Soviets could credibly threaten
> to retaliate ONLY against the FRG if the missiles were used. By having
> ONLY the US hold any keys, the Soviets would be forced to escalate
> against the whole of NATO, rather than just against the FRG, thus
> risking US cities to deter a conventional attack on West Germany.
> 
> Besides which, the Soviet Union has made it abundantly clear that it
> would consider German control of nuclear weapons a grave violation of
> treaty, and perhaps even a causus belli.
> 
> 					David Rubin
> 			{allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!david

The Germans already have VETO power over the use of previously deployed
nuclear weapons on their soil.  This does not mean they control such weapons
but only that they *must agree to their use* ! 
This is important and to me represents a far more reasonable way of 
"linking" and sharing nuclear capability within NATO than with the newly
deployed cruise missiles which take away this important veto power of
European governments. Is NATO only the United States?  Should the US
have the power to unilaterally decide to launch European missiles without
any consultation with Europe?  How does that make NATO stronger?
The fact is the cruise missile deployment has been a major issue leading
to conflict within NATO and to severe discontent of a large portion of
the European citizenry with their governments.  Rather than making NATO
stronger it has made it weaker.
Because the US can fire European missiles unilaterally does not make it
any more likely that US cities will be involved in a European nuclear
war. (except insofar as such missiles strike Russian territory, which they
are capable of doing) Rather it makes it possible for both sides to
fire missiles from their European allies without any consultation with
those allies.  Because Russia can unilaterally decide to fire the nuclear
weapons of the Warsaw Pact does not mean the US should have the same power.
Or have we given up on the idea of democracy and true cooperation among
Western nations?
 
tim sevener whuxl!orb