Bold Vision
On April 5th, President Obama laid out a bold vision for a world free of nuclear weapons and a compelling plan to make that vision a reality. He called for dramatic changes to the nuclear weapons policies of the United States and for taking steps to eliminate dangerous, Cold-War nuclear arsenals – steps designed to increase American and international security.
The response from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress has for the most part been silence. Obama will need strong support from both sides of the aisle to promote his agenda, as well as a two-thirds majority in the Senate for ratification of any international treaty. Among the few Senators, who have come out in favor of Obama’s courageous approach to nuclear weapons reductions is John McCain.
Speaking on the Senate floor following a ceremony honoring President Ronald Reagan, Senator McCain pointed out, that in a speech, before the Japanese Diet on November 11, 1983, President Ronald Reagan said: “The only value in possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they can’t be used ever. I know I speak for people everywhere when I say our dream is to see the day when nuclear weapons will be banished from the face of the Earth.” Sen. McCain added: “That is my dream, too, and it is one shared by many of our most distinguished national security practitioners.” Other Senators who have spoken out include Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold and Oregon’s freshman Senator Jeff Merkley, but those three Senators are not enough.
Vital nuclear weapons issues are forthcoming, on the floor of the Senate, such as a new nuclear reductions treaty between US and Russia, as well as, a vote on the treaty to ban nuclear weapons testing. Therefore, it is more imperative now than ever before that we insist that our Senators and Representatives in Congress support Obama’s nuclear policies.
North Korea’s testing of nuclear weapons and missiles and Iran’s uranium enrichment program have proven that this is a critical time for global cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation. It’s also a critical time for our representatives in Congress to demonstrate statesmanship instead of political gamesmanship.
The response from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress has for the most part been silence. Obama will need strong support from both sides of the aisle to promote his agenda, as well as a two-thirds majority in the Senate for ratification of any international treaty. Among the few Senators, who have come out in favor of Obama’s courageous approach to nuclear weapons reductions is John McCain.
Speaking on the Senate floor following a ceremony honoring President Ronald Reagan, Senator McCain pointed out, that in a speech, before the Japanese Diet on November 11, 1983, President Ronald Reagan said: “The only value in possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they can’t be used ever. I know I speak for people everywhere when I say our dream is to see the day when nuclear weapons will be banished from the face of the Earth.” Sen. McCain added: “That is my dream, too, and it is one shared by many of our most distinguished national security practitioners.” Other Senators who have spoken out include Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold and Oregon’s freshman Senator Jeff Merkley, but those three Senators are not enough.
Vital nuclear weapons issues are forthcoming, on the floor of the Senate, such as a new nuclear reductions treaty between US and Russia, as well as, a vote on the treaty to ban nuclear weapons testing. Therefore, it is more imperative now than ever before that we insist that our Senators and Representatives in Congress support Obama’s nuclear policies.
North Korea’s testing of nuclear weapons and missiles and Iran’s uranium enrichment program have proven that this is a critical time for global cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation. It’s also a critical time for our representatives in Congress to demonstrate statesmanship instead of political gamesmanship.
posted by Jim O'Leary | 12:25 AM
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