Feith et. al: US nuclear modernization key to nonproliferation

In an opinion piece in Friday’s Washington Post, former senior official in the second Bush Defense Department Douglas Feith and colleagues argue that preventing nuclear proliferation requires a strong nuclear umbrella. They criticize Obama administration nuclear arms reduction efforts:

Obama’s determination to make major new cuts in the U.S. nuclear arsenal should be considered in this light. By some accounts, he has in mind reductions of about a third. It would be wiser if the president fulfilled the commitments he made during the debate over ratification of his New START treaty with Russia: modernize all three legs of the triad; ensure the safety and deterrent effectiveness of the weapons in each leg; and restore the critical industrial base supporting these forces.

For “industrial base” here, include US nuclear labs.