The ultimate goal for mankind should be the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Any step in that direction that takes into consideration the security of this nation is a good step.

Sheers numbers of warheads are meaningless. If in the context of a cold war like state survivability of the delivery systems is paramount. Submarine based SLBMs are one of the most stealth methods of delivery available. To that end the USA currently has 1,728 SLBM warheads compared to Russia with 624. This is approximately an advantage of 3 to 1.

Regardless of this and other technical issues the Cold War ended decades ago. We are no longer and should not longer be in an arms race with Russia. Sheer numbers of nuclear weapons do not tell the whole story.

For facts on the new posture the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review is available on line.

It’s important to remember that START does not mean the unilateral disarmament of our nuclear capability:

Building on NPR analysis, the United States and Russia have agreed to mutual limits under the New START:

A limit of 1,550 accountable strategic warheads;

A separate limit of 700 deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed nuclear-capable
heavy bombers; and

A combined limit of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and nuclear capable heavy bombers.

I don’t think you would want to be above ground in the event that those 1,550 warheads were ever detonated in the course of a week.