"
Anti-democratic, outdated, unnecessary and extremely dangerous
".
It was in these terms that former US Defense Minister William Perry called on future US President Joe Biden to relinquish exclusive control over nuclear codes.
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In a column published by the daily
Politico
, William Perry, who was Bill Clinton's defense minister from 1994 to 1997, notes that Donald Trump, accused of having encouraged violence in Congress on Wednesday, "
still has his finger on the button nuclear
”.
"
It is time to withdraw nuclear football from this president and all the presidents who will succeed him
," he adds.
"
It is no longer needed and its very existence poses a danger to our national security
."
The President of the United States is accompanied at all times by a military aid that carries a suitcase, nicknamed "
football
", containing all the elements necessary for a nuclear strike.
“[The president] doesn't need a second opinion.
The Minister of Defense has no say.
Congress plays no role ”.
William Perry, former US Minister of Defense
The former head of the Pentagon recalls that once elected, an American president "
obtains the absolute right to launch a nuclear war
".
“
He doesn't need a second opinion.
The Minister of Defense has no say.
Congress plays no role
”.
“
Why are we taking this risk?
Do we really think that a president should have the divine power to instantly destroy the planet?
William Perry asks.
Read also: Nancy Pelosi says she discussed with the military how to prevent Donald Trump from using nuclear codes
The previous Truman
It was President Harry S. Truman who, after the nuclear hell of Hiroshima and Nagazaki, decided 75 years ago never to use atomic weapons again, recalls the former minister.
“
For him, that meant getting it out of the hands of the military.
Truman therefore declared that no atomic bomb could be dropped until he personally authorized it
, ”he said.
"
Truman then set the dangerous precedent for one-person control
."
Read also: Banning nuclear weapons: between utopia and legitimate debate
William Perry therefore calls on Mr. Biden to announce as soon as he takes office that he "will
share the right to use nuclear weapons with a limited group of elected officials
."
“
On January 20, if all goes well, the country and the world will be able to breathe a huge sigh of relief,
” he concludes.
“
As soon as Joe Biden is sworn in, nuclear football will be his.
It will then be up to him to get rid of football and make sure that we never again entrust the most powerful killing machine ever to a single, fallible human being
”.