A Matter of Concern: Loss of a New START

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Photo credit (edited), fair use

My primary military occupational specialty (MOS) when in the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (1996-2007), was military police (MP). My secondary MOS was Marine Security Guard (MSG). Both positions were of a federal nature.

Overlapping my military service, I became a subcontractor with the U.S. Department of Energy when working at Pantex (the primary U.S. nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility), a member of the federal protective forces (pro force), as a security police officer (2004-2008).

During that time, I participated in activities which complied with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). For instance, Russian Federation (Russia) officials were allowed to visit Pantex and inspect our atomic and nuclear arsenal, and vice versa.

When I promoted to the position of pro force lieutenant, which was a lot like being an MP, I was tasked with escorting foreign dignitaries around Pantex. As well, I accompanied U.S. politicians, military officers, and other “VIPs” (very important persons) when they attended official visits.

Colloquially, my escorting duties were referred to as a dog and pony show (an often elaborate public relations presentation). The pay was good, morale at Pantex was poor, and I’m grateful for having made the prudent decision to work on a bachelor’s degree as part of my exit strategy.

A few years after leaving Pantex, the New START Treaty was ratified. Noteworthy, when serving as an MSG I was assigned to the U.S. Department of State. This departmental organization states of the New START Treaty:

Treaty Structure: The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, also known as the New START Treaty, enhances U.S. national security by placing verifiable limits on all Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. The United States and the Russian Federation have agreed to extend the treaty through February 4, 2026.

As today is February 5, 2026, it’s unknown as to what loss of a New START now means. Arguably, aspects of the NPT have already been chipped away when U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly authorized nuclear weapons testing to resume for first time in over 30 years.

This is especially concerning, given that the Russians have already demonstrated deployment of their Oreshnik missiles (intermediate-range ballistic missiles characterized by their reported speed exceeding Mach 10—hypersonic). For context, one source reports:

Russia’s hypersonic weapons threat is a true challenge to the United States and its NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] allies. There are no current reliable defensive systems that can stop an incoming, fast, radically maneuvering hypersonic missile on its way to a NATO target.

Experts in the West, however, argue that there is one system that just might have a chance—and only a slight chance, at that—at stopping an incoming Russian hypersonic weapon.

That is the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Of course, the United States and its allies have but a handful of these important systems and, because of America’s many defense commitments and shambolic defense industrial base, there is little chance that THAAD will ever be tested against an incoming Russian hypersonic weapon.

While THAAD may be able to stop Oreshnik missiles, it’s unlikely that a nuclear payload won’t be delivered against members of NATO at some point. This is concerning, because it appears as though NATO has continually provoked Russia since 2014. For clarity, one source states:

The world’s two largest nuclear powers, Russia and the United States, no longer have any limits on their arsenals.

At midnight on Thursday, a 15-year-old treaty called New START expired, and with it, caps on the number of weapons the two sides could deploy on missiles, bombers and submarines.

“There are no more guardrails on the sizes of the United States and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals,” said Christine Wormuth, president of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, an arms control advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. “That has not been the case for decades.”

When discussing loss of a New START, I find it useful to provide a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Specifically, I focus on the concerning nature of the world’s current nuclear quandary.

For context, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

As a fallible human being with limited control and influence regarding myself and others (USA and UOA), I have precisely zero ability to alter matters related to expiration of the New START Treaty (ULA). Thus, this issue is located within my conceptualized circle of concern.

This is the same sphere in which the past, natural disasters, death, the future, and other elements of existence are categorized. Therefore, because I can’t control or influence this circle—even though I have some degree of concern, I don’t waste time self-disturbing about nuclear conflict.

How about you? Has anyone within the U.S. or Russia contacted you about the New START Treaty, NPT, or anything related to potential conflict of a nuclear nature? If not, are you willing to simply remain concerned while thereafter focusing on what you can control and influence?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

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