Volume 1, Number 42, December 15, 2010
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) has been thoroughly vetted. The Senate can and should vote to approve this treaty, which has the overwhelming support of the U.S. military and Republican and Democratic national security leaders.
Postponing or rejecting New START would further delay the re-establishment of an effective U.S.-Russian inspection and monitoring system, undermine U.S. nonproliferation leadership, and jeopardize U.S.-Russian cooperation, including joint efforts to contain Iran's nuclear program.
The facts and numbers surrounding New START speak volumes.
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2 Former Presidents who support New START[i]
0 Former Presidents who oppose New START
16 Former Secretaries of Defense, State and National Security Advisors, support[ii]
1 Former Secretaries of Defense, State and National Security Advisors, oppose[iii]
7 Former U.S. Strategic Commanders, support[iv]
0 Former U.S. Strategic Commanders, oppose
5 Days of Senate 1992 floor debate on START I (passed 93-6)
2 Days of Senate 1996 floor debate on START II (passed 87-4)
2 Days of Senate 2003 floor debate on Moscow Treaty (passed 95-0)
85 Billion dollars: Obama Administration budget for National Nuclear Security
Administration weapons complex upgrades, over ten years
10 Billion dollars: Administration budget for Ballistic Missile Defense, one year
650 Verified reduction in Russian deployed nuclear warheads with New START[v]
0 Verified reduction in Russian deployed nuclear warheads without New START
18 Annual on-site inspections in Russia with New START
0 Annual on-site inspections without New START
390 Days without on-site inspections, as of Dec.31, 2010
[i] George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton
[ii] Secretaries of Defense: James R. Schlesinger, William J. Perry, Harold Brown, Frank Carlucci, William Cohen. Secretaries of State: Condoleezza Rice, Colin L. Powell, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, George Shultz, James Baker, Lawrence Eagleburger, Henry Kissinger. National Security Advisors: Samuel Berger, Brent Scowcroft, Stephen Hadley.
[iii] Former National Security Advisor William P. Clark
[iv] General Larry Welch, General John Chain, General Lee Butler, Admiral Henry Chiles, General Eugene Habiger, Admiral James Ellis, General Bennie Davis.
[v] New START lowers treaty limits on accountable strategic nuclear weapons from 2,200 to 1,550.