A U.S. serviceman carries a nuclear briefcase with a “nuclear button” to the president’s Marine One aircraft, May 21, 2016.
A nuclear briefcase is a piece of equipment that the U.S. president carries with him to give orders for nuclear weapons attacks anywhere, anytime. Recently, however, congressional Democrats in the House of Representatives demanded that President Biden give up his absolute authority to launch nuclear weapons.
Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-California, spearheaded the demand in a letter Monday that was signed by nearly 36 House Democrats, Politico reported.
“Giving a person this kind of power poses real risks,” the letter reads, adding that “past presidents have threatened to attack other countries with nuclear weapons or have behaved in a way that would make other officials worry about the president’s judgment.”
The letter explains that while any president would presumably consult with advisers before ordering a nuclear attack, there is no requirement to do so; if the military assesses the order as legitimate, they are obligated to carry it out. With the current U.S. nuclear force posture, once ordered, an attack would occur within minutes.
In their letter, Democratic lawmakers also cited other alternatives, including making the decision by committee or involving the vice president and the speaker of the House, both of whom are heirs to the presidency and cannot be removed by the president if they do not agree to launch a nuclear weapon.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spoke with Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in January to discuss precautions against an “unstable” president launching military hostilities or ordering a nuclear strike.
The Democrats’ letter comes at a Time of growing concern about Biden’s mental state.
On Tuesday, Australian commentator Cory Bernardi said on Sky News Australia that it appeared Biden’s mental state was declining.
Grant Stinchfield, host of Newsmax TV, a conservative media outlet in the United States, commented, “It’s clear that President Biden is not up to the task he’s sworn to do, and never before has the Perception of the leader of the free world been so compromised. “
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