Whether we can achieve complete elimination depends on the creation of a much safer, transparent, and cooperative world. It is far, far better to make the effort than to resign ourselves to a world forever threatened with these weapons of mass destruction. It could be dangerous only if we take steps along the way that harm our national security. It could be unwise if we forego small but useful steps in pursuit of more grandiose objectives. Our political leaders should be able to meet these simple tests.
Nuclear weapons pose the greatest danger to the security of the United States.
The US nuclear arsenal is bloated beyond any reasonable strategic need. US conventional forces can overwhelm any potential adversary, including rogue states that possess nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, as long as other states continue to have these weapons, the United States needs them to deter nuclear attack. Because nuclear weapons have no useful purpose other than to deter their use by others, stockpiles can be vastly reduced and taken off alert, even under current political conditions. If and when other states become so transparent and cooperative that we can have sufficient confidence that their weapon stockpiles have been eliminated, we can take the final steps to eliminate our own.