Yet what has been lost in the angst that Mr. Trump might soon have the authority to launch nuclear weapons is the equally unnerving reality that the U.S. nuclear posture is already unnecessarily dangerous and redundant. Neither Trump nor Hillary Clinton have explained how they would seek to put U.S. doctrine on a safer footing and reduce global nuclear weapons risks. The president has the sole authority to launch nuclear weapons, and in some scenarios would only have minutes to confirm an incoming nuclear attack and give the order to strike. Apart from promising to tear up the Iran nuclear agreement and wondering if Japan and South Korea should be acquiring their own nuclear weapons (both of which would have devastating consequences for U.S. security), Trump has said virtually nothing about his plans on nuclear weapons issues. Clinton says she will "vigorously enforce" the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and intensify efforts to safeguard nuclear materials.

Source: CNN August 13, 2016 04:07 UTC