Former Member of Obama's NSC Says Mattis Has Inserted Himself in the Nuke Chain of Command. (Update)

Jon Wolfsthal

( Jon Wolfsthal served most recently (2014-2017) as special assistant to President Barack Obama and Senior Director for Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the National Security Council. In that post, he was the most senior White House official setting and implementing U.S. Government policy on all aspects of arms control, nonproliferation, and nuclear policy.)

Well, this is scary as fuck.

This should scare everyone. Mattis has inserted himself into the nuclear weapons chain of command and reassured Senators for @GOP and @DNC that he could manage @realDonaldTrump dangerous nuclear impulses.  This greatly increases risks of nuclear use. https://t.co/glWVzuzgmB

— 🇺🇸 Jon B. “Globalist” Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) December 20, 2018

Mattis has been a check - beyond what is permitted in law - to help prevent the President from responding precipitously to an unexpected missile alert. His departure means existing and undemocratic check is going too. Senate members who tollerated Trump may be less willing now.

— 🇺🇸 Jon B. “Globalist” Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) December 20, 2018

Boom goes London, boom goes Paree.

Friday, Dec 21, 2018 · 12:31:30 AM +00:00 · durrati

This is a beaut.

Defense officials tell me Mattis went to the White House to discuss Syria & that he was livid after reading reports that Turkey's Defense Minister threatened to kill US-backed Kurds & put them in ditches once the US withdrew. He was incensed at this notion of betrayal of an ally

— Ryan Browne (@rabrowne75) December 21, 2018

Friday, Dec 21, 2018 · 2:34:12 AM +00:00 · durrati

This was to ensure that President did not get brought into a nuclear command conference without Mattis' input. Many don't know but the Secretary of Defense is not in the chain of nuclear command and does not have to be informed of decision by President to use nuclear weapons.

— 🇺🇸 Jon B. “Globalist” Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) December 21, 2018

Also, Mattis' reported action would not prevent President from ordering nuclear launch - he can at any time either in response to nuclear crisis or even without provocation -  President is an absolute nuclear monarchy - something that is inconsistent with the Constitution, IMHO.

— 🇺🇸 Jon B. “Globalist” Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) December 21, 2018

Trump alone has ability to launch nuclear weapons.  Almost any use could be considered legal, officers would have to follow proper launch order.  US has almost 4000 nuclear weapons, some 2000 on alert or readily launched at any time.

— 🇺🇸 Jon B. “Globalist” Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) December 21, 2018

No one person should have this ability to use nuclear weapons - unless in retaliation to the use of nuclear weapons against us or our allies.  Congress should make it illegal for President to use nuclear weapons first, and America can then lead the way to reducing nuclear risks.

— 🇺🇸 Jon B. “Globalist” Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) December 21, 2018

Finally, whoever is nominated for SecDef must answer questions about role of nuclear weapons, how they would change the nuclear chain of command, whether any one person should have such authority and how they would act should the President indicate intent to initiate nuclear use.

— 🇺🇸 Jon B. “Globalist” Wolfsthal (@JBWolfsthal) December 21, 2018