Def
ense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld believes it’s only prudent to employ ICBMs with conventional warheads to counter threats by weapons of mass destruction. Rumsfeld, who was speaking at a news conference Sunday in Alaska with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, asserted that such a capability would entail a communications link with Russia and cooperation. He said, “If either of our countries … were threatened in the future with a weapon of mass destruction, … I think any president would like to have available a conventional weapon that could attack that target swiftly and accurately and precisely.” According to Reuters news service, Ivanov hesitated, saying other options might be possible. A DOD news release quoted Ivanov as calling for “transparency and predictability, as well as mutual respect.”
President Donald Trump signed legislation reopening the federal government late Nov. 12, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The move sets the stage for tens of thousands of defense civilians to return to work and guarantees troops will be paid in a few days’ time.
