(cache) John Noonan on Trump's reported approach to nuclear weapons (with image, tweet) · ddiamond

On Wednesday morning, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough passed along the anonymous claim that Donald Trump repeatedly asked an adviser why the United States couldn't preemptively use nuclear weapons as a tool of foreign policy.
Scarborough: Donald Trump asked an advisor three times why the U.S. couldn't use nukes http://slate.me/2axL2OM pic.twitter.com/067BXg8UOe
Slate @Slate
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Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:50:10
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https://twitter.com/Slate/status/760865350967787520
— Slate (@Slate)Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:50:10
John Noonan — who served as Jeb Bush's top national security adviser, years after working in a nuclear missile silo — weighed in with some alarm.
John Noonan @noonanjo
1. I cant get this in one tweet. So bear with me as I air some laundry here on Scarborough's claim Trump's interested in nuclear First Use
Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:58:12
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760867373809340416
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:58:12
John Noonan @noonanjo
2. Pulled 300 nuclear alerts, 100 ft under the Wyoming turf. Job is serious and full of serious people.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:58:51
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760867537487818752
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:58:51
John Noonan @noonanjo
3. When we went into ICBM training, we went through a battery of tests and interviews. Are you sane? Are you willing to turn your key?
Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:59:30
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760867701313208320
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:59:30
John Noonan @noonanjo
4. I see how those might sound at odds.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:59:44
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760867759064580096
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 15:59:44
John Noonan @noonanjo
5. But the whole idea behind nuclear deterrence is that you don't use the damn things. So I thought the mission credible and worthy.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:00:22
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760867916225150980
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:00:22
John Noonan @noonanjo
6. There are a hell of a lot of bad actors out there who have nukes. They are restrained only by our ability to instantly lay waste to them.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:01:08
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760868110672990208
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:01:08
John Noonan @noonanjo
7. The nuke triad, which Trump doesn't have a clue about, has been the single greatest contributor to global peace for decades. You heard me
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:02:20
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760868413594071040
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:02:20
John Noonan @noonanjo
8. I dont know if Scarborough is telling whole truth here. Anonymous sources suck. BUT... if he is... buckle the hell up.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:03:16
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760868649309761536
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:03:16
John Noonan @noonanjo
9. Because Trump would be undoing 6 decades of proven deterrence theory. The purpose of nukes is that they are never used. Trump disagrees?
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:04:19
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760868912049291272
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:04:19
John Noonan @noonanjo
10. This would be the single greatest strategic shift in US national security in decades. In a Trump Presidency, our foreign policy
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:05:14
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760869144422182912
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:05:14
John Noonan @noonanjo
11. ....would be this. "Leave our alliances, fall back on a nuclear first use policy." Does he understand just how F'ing dangerous that is?
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:05:58
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760869327755149312
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:05:58
John Noonan @noonanjo
12. But what really concerns me, as a former nuke guy, is the idea of a narcissist walking around with nuclear authenticators.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:06:55
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760869565853229056
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:06:55
John Noonan @noonanjo
13. I could sit 100ft underground, on alert, knowing that the POTUS would not make me do my duty -- not unless it was absolute last resort
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:07:47
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760869784158371841
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:07:47
John Noonan @noonanjo
14. But imagine having to turn launch keys not knowing if we were under attack or if it was b/c foreign leader said a mean thing on twitter
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:09:46
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760870281443508224
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:09:46
John Noonan @noonanjo
15. The power is there to kill millions. Permanently alter the geopolitical landscape. It is a sacred, sobering responsibility.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:10:23
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760870438083915776
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:10:23
John Noonan @noonanjo
16. Idea that nukes would be used, say over Raqqa or Mosul, simply because we have no more allies and it's a simple, easy fix is nauseating
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:11:25
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760870699384922112
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:11:25
John Noonan @noonanjo
17. Simply signaling that you're open to using strategic weapons as a tactical solution rewrites the rule book. Russia, China, others will
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:12:28
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760870964666261504
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:12:28
John Noonan @noonanjo
18. respond. Nuclear deterrence is about balance. Trump is an elephant jumping up and down on one side of the scale. So damn dangerous.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:13:35
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760871245042900992
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:13:35
John Noonan @noonanjo
19. But geopolitics aside, I can't get my mind off the young officers on nuke alert right now. Wondering if they'll soon answer to a madman.
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:14:55
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760871580956254209
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:14:55
John Noonan @noonanjo
20. And be asked to do a duty that should morally be asked of no human being, ever. //end
Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:15:52
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https://twitter.com/noonanjo/status/760871819410825217
— John Noonan (@noonanjo)Wed, Aug 03 2016 16:15:52

John Noonan on Trump's reported approach to nuclear weapons

'Does he understand just how F'ing dangerous that is?'

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John Noonan on Trump's reported approach to nuclear weapons

'Does he understand just how F'ing dangerous that is?'

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