Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jennifer Decker, who works for Citizens Against Nuclear Bombers in Vermont, a project of People Power Initiatives. With a master’s degree in group counseling and organizational dynamics, she has been based in VT for the last 14 years working as a counselor in educational and community settings.
[T]he doomsday clock, that measure of the threat of nuclear war and the ensuing nuclear annihilation of life on earth, is closer to midnight than ever before. Vermonters oppose any chance of housing nuclear-capable weapons here. There has been a hearing in the Senate Government Operations Committee on our resolution banning the basing of nuclear capable weapons in our state. The Senate Committee has now shared our testimony with the Legislature. The new nuclear arms race must interest Vermonters, who have a role to play in stopping the nuclear-capable F-35.
The F-35 is slated to be retrofitted for use as a nuclear bomber. The Department of Defense nuclear posture review (2018), as well as senior Pentagon officials, have stated that the B61-12 guided nuclear bomb is being customized for the F-35. Now that we know this, it’s not too late to stop its delivery; many other states have stood up to the Department of Defense and won, including Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Alaska and Idaho.
We are determined to stop the basing at the airport in Burlington this fall. The arrival could be destructive locally, regionally and globally. This is a bipartisan issue. Many administrations have contributed to nuclear weapons development and many have worked to reduce tensions. Unfortunately, the current administration is willing to consider using “low yield” nuclear weapons in the event of a military conflict. This is unconscionable, as any use of a nuclear weapon risks initiating a global nuclear winter. For this reason, in 1982, 177 out of 195 cities and towns in Vermont signed nuclear freeze resolutions. Throughout history, states have stood for their rights with regard to housing weapons systems. It is time to stand again for a nuclear-free Vermont.
The current campaign to stop the bombers is made up of veterans and civilians who question whether this project has any value for national security and don’t want to be complicit in a nuclear war.
The planes are hampered by design flaws and have been involved in mishaps: onboard fires, at least two crashes of F-35s, one in the U.S. last year and one in the sea near Japan this spring that has still not been located. We would like to know if the Air Force has shared the technological problems with this plane with our Air Guard. Safety testing won’t be complete when the planes arrive.
This untrustworthy aircraft, the F-35, is also a single seat plane. It is unprecedented that a nuclear weapons system is in the hands of just one operator. In the fog of war, a costly mistake would be a global tragedy. There are even more health issues. The planes come with a stealth coating, which may help evade detection but is not effective against older radar systems. In the event of a plane crash, toxic chemicals would be unleashed into the air, ground and water that would decimate local industries. Have legislators calculated the cost of a catastrophe in economic forecasts?
We are thankful to the veterans who do their patriotic duty in refusing to obey unlawful orders, such as the basing of a high-level military project in a civilian airport, particularly one that carries safety risks.
In stark contrast to the bravery of veterans campaigning to stop this basing, some elected leaders refuse to take action. It does not make sense when a state representative holds up handfuls of messages from constituents and yet denies the people a fair hearing on H.R.7, our resolution banning the basing of nuclear weapons in Vermont.
We stand for our constitutional rights for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We stand for the protection of our life, liberty, and property, which will not be taken from us without due process. When we raise points about devastation to life and property, our state legislators’ response cites Lockheed Martin, an entity that they were not elected to represent. They also cite the Vermont Air Guard and of this, we are glad. We believe that those who commit their lives and careers to the Guards deserve our advocacy for safe and reasonable working conditions, including an honest accounting of hazards associated with these planes.
The state House of Representatives has stood for respect and dignity for our service members this session and can do this again by taking action on H.R.7. It was not long ago that the Guards’ primary responsibility was understood to be the protection of the states. Our state elected leaders are answerable to us, not to the arms manufacturers. We support checks and balances on military spending and overreach. The F-35 has a high ownership cost for our state and low military value; jobs will be lost to our state as outside contractors from Lockheed Martin will perform the maintenance. It’s time for regular people to reclaim our rights. We do not agree to being singled out for nuclear attack due to this irresponsible basing, and we will not be implicated in launching a nuclear war.
Vermonters are fond of our congressional delegation, yet we cannot allow loyalty to stop us from calling them out on a foolhardy plan to house a nuclear weapons delivery system in a civilian neighborhood. Like every other part of a nuclear arms race, this is madness. We encourage Sen. Patrick Leahy to set aside this mistake-in-progress and explore alternate missions, such as cyber security, that will create a foundation for peace through investment in intelligence and the skills and talents of the younger generation. Cyberwar is the real threat to our security.
Nuclear weapons have never been a solution. The retrofitting of these planes provides an opportunity for our senators and representative to stand with the people and turn down a destructive project in favor of a mission that will stand future generations in good stead. We ask our elected leaders to show the courage that is owed to our common humanity in this moment. To the good people of Vermont, please join our struggle: Stand with previous generations and for the future, a nuclear weapons-free Vermont.
