In an open letter to President Biden and Congress, more than 700 scientists have criticized the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system, calling it expensive and unnecessary. The Department of Defense has approved the program despite rising costs, with estimated expenses reaching $131 billion. The scientists argue that the US does not need land-based nuclear weapons, as its submarine-based missiles are already secure and effective in deterring attacks. Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies have also joined in the opposition to the Sentinel program, questioning its technical and strategic justifications. Physicist Barry Barish, a Nobel Prize winner, has expressed strong disapproval of the Pentagon’s nuclear weapons development efforts. The letter highlights the vulnerabilities of land-based nuclear missiles, housed in silos across several states, and the increased risk of nuclear war due to high alert measures. The scientists advocate for investing in the upgrade of submarine and bomber aircraft systems, which are deemed more secure and cost-effective. The United States is leading global spending on nuclear weapons, with plans to allocate over a trillion dollars for nuclear arsenal upgrades over the next three decades.
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https://consortiumnews.com/2024/07/10/scientists-to-biden-cancel-new-nuclear-ibm-system/
