The U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel recently announced in the Pentagon that U.S. will spend billions of dollars on overhauling its whole nuclear weapons infrastructure. Two investigations had uncovered serious problems in every aspect of the American nuclear deterrent, including low troop morale, bad organization, cheating in examinations, and drug abuse.

Hagel had ordered the two investigation groups to undertake a complete survey of the whole U.S. nuclear capacity. After analysis of the results, covering 1500 personnel over a period of six months, the two groups both raeched the conclusion that problems were far more serious than had been anticipated, and that the problems were deep-rooted.

Hagel points out that America's nuclear weapons infrastructure is suffering from long-term underinvestment. Focus on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has weakened the U.S. nuclear deterrent and damaged its security and performance.

To remedy the situation, the United States Navy will hire 2500 people to overhaul public shipyards, strategic weapons, and ageing infrastructure. A new policy on revitalizing the U.S. nuclear deterrent will be announced.

Hagel's announcements have attracted international attention. His plans involve an investment of over one trillion dollars in nuclear weapons at the very time when the international community is trying to reduce the quantity of weapons worldwide and avoid any further proliferation. Meanwhile, President Obama keeps talking about a Nuclear-Free World.

It is ironic that on the one hand the American government is taking vigorous action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while on the other hand it is preparing for a complete overhaul of its own nuclear arsenal.

The article is edited and translated from 《美国要花大钱整修核武设施》,source: People's Daily, author: Wen Xian Wang Hongjie