The constant administrative churning of the defense policy process has yielded several notable new Department of Defense directives and instructions, such as the following.
U.S. policy on handling classified NATO information is addressed in “United States Security Authority for North Atlantic Treaty Organization Affairs” (pdf), DoD Directive 5100.55, February 27, 2006.
Continuity of military operations “under all circumstances across the spectrum of threats” is prescribed in “Defense Continuity Plan Development” (pdf), DoD Instruction 3020.42, February 17, 2006.
An updated Instruction entitled “Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) Program” (pdf) was issued by Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen A. Cambone on February 22, 2006.
Satellite imagery of RAF Lakenheath reveals new construction of a security perimeter around ten protective aircraft shelters in the designated nuclear area, the latest measure in a series of upgrades as the base prepares for the ability to store U.S. nuclear weapons.
It will take consistent leadership and action to navigate the complex dangers in the region and to avoid what many analysts considered to be an increasingly possible outcome, a nuclear conflict in East Asia.
Getting into a shutdown is the easy part, getting out is much harder. Both sides will be looking to pin responsibility on each other, and the court of public opinion will have a major role to play as to who has the most leverage for getting us out.
How the United States responds to China’s nuclear buildup will shape the global nuclear balance for the rest of the century.