By Tom Z. Collina and Daryl G. Kimball
On Thursday, Dec. 16, Minority Whip Jon Kyl made 14 points on the Senate floor against ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). None of Sen. Kyl's concerns are new; all have been previously addressed by the administration and the Foreign Relations Committee's Sept. 16 bipartisan resolution of advice and consent.
Sen. Kyl's 14 points and ACA's rebuttals are below.
by Daryl G. Kimball
Earlier today, Senator Kyl (R-Ariz.) erroneously claimed on the floor of the Senate that New START's verification system is weaker than the system of the 1991 START treaty.
Such superficial comparisons miss the point and twist the facts. The 1991 START was negotiated in a different time and established different limits on strategic nuclear weapons, and its verification system was different from the more modern New START.
As three days of voting near their conclusion, exit polls indicate that two nominees are currently leading the field in the hotly contest Arms Control Person(s) of the Year competition.
Last year's winner, Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind), nominated this year for:
By Farrah Zughni
As the Senate commences floor debate on New START this week, the features in the December edition of Arms Control Today invite readers to look ahead to even broader efforts in reducing nuclear arsenals globally.
By Tom Z. Collina and Daryl G. Kimball
A recognized global leader in both arms trade and export control, the United States has committed to seeking a robust international arms trade treaty. Washington is undertaking this effort in part to raise global norms for the trade in conventional weapons. At the same time, the administration is moving forward with a comprehensive review of its own export control system that may lower U.S. standards. It's difficult to advocate for states to raise their own practices while appearing to weaken one's own.
An Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to Bring the World Up
By Daryl G. Kimball
Leaders of key organizations working to sustain momentum for approval of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty wrote the Senate Democratic leadership earlier this evening demanding that the Senate immediately turn its attention to the treaty.
This call is being backed up by a substantial, nationwide grassroots and Washington-based lobbying effort.
By Farrah Zughni
Arms Control Today, ACA's monthly magazine, goes beyond the news headlines to identify policy problems with and solutions to risks posed by the world's most dangerous weapons.
Check out the three most popular news articles from our December issue:
By Rob Golan-Vilella
By Jeff Abramson
The Arms Control Association seeks nominations for its annual Arms Control Person(s) of the Year competition.
