EXCLUSIVE: US Preparing to Put Nuclear Bombers Back on 24-Hour Alert

A 2014 photo of a B-52H Stratofortress based at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. (U.S. AIR FORCE / SENIOR AIRMAN CHRISTINE GRIFFITHS)

 

If the order comes, the B-52s will return to a ready-to-fly posture not seen since the Cold War.

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. —  The U.S. Air Force is preparing to put nuclear-armed bombers back on 24-hour ready alert, a status not seen since the Cold War ended in 1991.

That means the long-dormant concrete pads at the ends of this base’s 11,000-foot runway — dubbed the “Christmas tree” for their angular markings — could once again find several B-52s parked on them, laden with nuclear weapons and set to take off at a moment’s notice.

US Air Force head ‘concerned’ about no-first-use nuke idea

The head of the US Air Force on Thursday said she would be “concerned” if President Barack Obama were to formally declare a “no-first-use” policy for America’s arsenal of nuclear weapons.

US media reports have in recent weeks said Obama is weighing an overhaul of long-standing nuclear policy, including by pledging to never conduct the first strike in a nuclear conflict.

Obama said to plan controversial nuclear weapons executive order during last days in office

Taking away America’s “no first use” policy means that America has to be nuked first before it can respond with tactical nuclear weapons itself.

 

As he nears the end of his second term, U.S. President Barack Obama is reportedly preparing a series of executive orders that officials said would weaken the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

Obama, in meetings with national security Cabinet members known as the Principals Committee, reviewed his options for executive actions on nuclear policy. None of the options require formal congressional approval.