House Democrats ask Biden to surrender unilateral nuclear launch powers – By Carly Roman (Washington Examiner) / Feb 25 2021
House Democrats are asking President Biden to share his unilateral ability to launch nuclear weapons.
In a letter to the president, Reps. Ted Lieu and Jimmy Panetta, accompanied by nearly 30 colleagues, argued that “vesting one person with this authority entails real risks.”
“While any president would presumably consult with advisors before ordering a nuclear attack, there is no requirement to do so,” read the letter dated Monday. “The military is obligated to carry out the order if they assess it is legal under the laws of war. Under the current posture of U.S. nuclear forces, that attack would happen in minutes.”
The letter singled out former President Donald Trump for criticism, citing his Twitter feud with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and conduct during the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot as “behavior that caused other officials to express concern about the president’s judgment.”
