THIS Time Around, THEY'll Make US Bankrupt Ourselves Via Military Spending

Early in his presidency, Obama was an outspoken advocate of nuclear disarmament. In April 2009, he pledged his commitment “to achieving a nuclear free world,” together with former Russian President Dimitri Medvedev. Later that month, Obama delivered a celebrated speech in Prague, saying he sought “the security of a world without nuclear weapons.”

  The Intercept

Mais oui. He was already the Nobel Peace Prize Prez.

The [Obama] administration has pointed to aging missile silos, 1950s-era bombers, and other outdated technologyto justify [its massive $1 trillion nuclear weapons modernization program] spending, describing the steps as intended to maintain present capabilities going forward — not bulking up to prepare for a future confrontation.

Last year, speaking to NATO allies, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter insisted that “the Cold War playbook … is not suitable for the 21st century.”

That was soooooo last year.

The budget request explicitly cites Russian aggression, saying, “We are countering Russia’s aggressive policies through investments in a broad range of capabilities … [including] our nuclear arsenal.”

[...]

The public acknowledgement that Russia is the impetus for U.S. modernization has critics concerned the Cold War-era superpowers are now engaged in a “modernization” arms race.

[...]

In December, Brian McKeon, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, testified before Congress: “We are investing in the technologies that are most relevant to Russia’s provocations … to both deter nuclear attacks and reassure our allies.”

Actually, I don't believe the Obama administration is doing it because of Russia. They're doing it because they are intimately connected to the defense contractors who will be getting even richer. They just word it that way because they know a lot of Republicans (and some Democrats) in Congress still think Russia is the big bad boogie man.

In a 2014 interview with the New York Times, Gary Samore, one of Obama’s top first-term nuclear advisers, said, “The most fundamental game changer is Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. That has made any measure to reduce the stockpile unilaterally politically impossible.”

Tell me again. What made Russia "invade" Ukraine?

But. Wait a minute.

President Barack Obama said Thursday his visit to Hiroshima will "underscore" the sense of urgency in reducing the threat of nuclear warfare today.

  NBC

Sigh.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.