Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Around 480 US nuclear arms in Europe, says report

Dreamer128 · 02-10-2005, 03:20 PM

10.02.2005 - 09:57 CET | By Lisbeth Kirk

The United States still has around 480 nuclear weapons in Europe, according to a study by the US-based privately-financed arms control group, the Natural Resources Defence Council, (NRDC).

The weapons are under US control and stored at eight bases in six countries - the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Turkey.

"The fact that the United States has some 480 nuclear weapons still stationed in Europe will come as a surprise to a lot of Europeans", said Hans M. Kristensen, the author of the report.

Germany tops the list hosting some 150 US nuclear weapons at two locations: Ramstein and Büchel.

The UK holds 110 US nukes at Lakenheat, Turkey has 90 in Incirlik, while 20 nuclear weapons are stored in Volkel in the Netherlands.

Aviano and Ghedi Torre in Italy have 90 of them and Kleine Brogel in Belgium, 20.

Russia has withdrawn all of its tactical nuclear weapons from the former Soviet states while in the mid- to late-1990s, the United States removed thousands of tactical nuclear weapons from Europe.

But they left 480 in place, said the experts.

France and the United Kingdom, in addition, have approximately 350 and 185 nuclear weapons respectively but the United States is the only country that has nuclear weapons outside its own territory.

"If China deployed nuclear bombs in North Korea, equipped North Korean aircraft with mechanical and electronic devices to deliver the weapons, and trained North Korean pilots to draw up nuclear strike plans, there would be hell to pay, and rightly so", said Mr Kristensen.

"Yet that is precisely what the United States is doing in Europe", he added.

The strike plans' potential targets are Russia and countries in the Middle East - most likely Iran and Syria, according to NRDC.

"Holding the nuclear sword over Tehran is unlikely to convince the mullahs to give up their nuclear programme", said Mr Kristensen.

The report concludes that the United States and NATO have no credible rationale for deploying US nuclear weapons in Europe. It recommends that NATO and the US finally end the Cold War by completing the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe.

The 102-page report entitled 'U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe' includes satellite images of the bases that store US nuclear weapons.

(EUObserver)

02-10-2005, 03:20 PM	#1
Dreamer128 Dracolisk Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Europe Age: 40 Posts: 6,136	10.02.2005 - 09:57 CET \| By Lisbeth Kirk The United States still has around 480 nuclear weapons in Europe, according to a study by the US-based privately-financed arms control group, the Natural Resources Defence Council, (NRDC). The weapons are under US control and stored at eight bases in six countries - the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Turkey. "The fact that the United States has some 480 nuclear weapons still stationed in Europe will come as a surprise to a lot of Europeans", said Hans M. Kristensen, the author of the report. Germany tops the list hosting some 150 US nuclear weapons at two locations: Ramstein and Büchel. The UK holds 110 US nukes at Lakenheat, Turkey has 90 in Incirlik, while 20 nuclear weapons are stored in Volkel in the Netherlands. Aviano and Ghedi Torre in Italy have 90 of them and Kleine Brogel in Belgium, 20. Russia has withdrawn all of its tactical nuclear weapons from the former Soviet states while in the mid- to late-1990s, the United States removed thousands of tactical nuclear weapons from Europe. But they left 480 in place, said the experts. France and the United Kingdom, in addition, have approximately 350 and 185 nuclear weapons respectively but the United States is the only country that has nuclear weapons outside its own territory. "If China deployed nuclear bombs in North Korea, equipped North Korean aircraft with mechanical and electronic devices to deliver the weapons, and trained North Korean pilots to draw up nuclear strike plans, there would be hell to pay, and rightly so", said Mr Kristensen. "Yet that is precisely what the United States is doing in Europe", he added. The strike plans' potential targets are Russia and countries in the Middle East - most likely Iran and Syria, according to NRDC. "Holding the nuclear sword over Tehran is unlikely to convince the mullahs to give up their nuclear programme", said Mr Kristensen. The report concludes that the United States and NATO have no credible rationale for deploying US nuclear weapons in Europe. It recommends that NATO and the US finally end the Cold War by completing the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Europe. The 102-page report entitled 'U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe' includes satellite images of the bases that store US nuclear weapons. (EUObserver)