136 European NATO parliamentarians oppose B61 nuclear bomb

By Ian Davis, NATO Watch
 
136 parliamentarians from Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands as well as members of the European Parliament signed a letter to the US Congress expressing their opposition to the continued stationing of the B61 nuclear bomb in their nations, as well as opposition to a nuclear role for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
 
The Italian parliamentarians went further and opposed any acquisition of the F-35 by the Italian government.
 
The letter dated 6 May 2014 was delivered by US NGO FCNL to every Representative on the US Armed Services Committee the day before they debated and passed their annual authorisation for the military budget.
 
The Committee debate on the B61 on 7 May 2014 was framed in terms of the letter without explicitly mentioning it. Rep. John Garamendi from California said in his closing remarks:
 
I would urge the [House Armed Services] committee going forward to seek knowledge. Seek knowledge from our allies in Europe about their view of the B61 bomb being rebuilt and deployed in Europe. To seek knowledge about alternative ways we can provide a nuclear umbrella for Europe, and those ways are already available.
 
Eric Tamerlani at FCNL said, "The letter opens the door for European Parliamentarians to continue to share their perspectives with the United States on this issue". 
 
FCNL are seeking additional parliamentarians to sign the letter. The deadline for further signatures is 18 July 2014 after which point the letter will be shared with US appropriations committees in the House and Senate, specifically the Energy & Water subcommittees.