Background: Earlier this year, President Obama signed and then submitted the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) to the U.S. Senate for ratification. The treaty puts America’s security at stake by ignoring the dual threats of North Korea and Iran while failing to deter future proliferation. At the same time, it places limitations on America’s ability to defend itself against these undeterred threats. Peace through strength it is not.
Status: Although the Senate Foreign Relations Committee continues to hold hearings, Chairman John Kerry indicated he would like the committee to approve the treaty before the August recess, setting up a vote on ratification sometime this Fall.
Fortunately, treaty ratification requires the support of 67 Senators. In this case, all 57 Senate Democrats (including Senator Robert Byrd’s eventual replacement), both Independents and at least eight Republicans must support the treaty. To date, the Republican support comes from Indiana Senator Dick Lugar. Running the opposition to the treaty is Republican Whip Jon Kyl.
Bring the Heat: Push back against the Washington establishment and international elitists. Ask your Senators, Congressman and neighborhood liberal hard questions about the New START Treaty.
- Will the treaty prevent future advances in America’s missile defense system? Russian President Medvedev seems to believe the treaty will limit future improvements in our missile defensive systems. If so, the treaty will have negotiated away America’s ability to protect itself by handing the Russians veto authority over our national security policy.
- Does this treaty make America safer? No. The treaty ignores the dual threats of Iran and North Korea; gives Russia nuclear superiority over the U.S., potentially fostering a Russia-China arms race; and ignores deterrence of future proliferation.
- Can Senators have access to the negotiating records? President Obama promised transparency. Now, his administration is refusing to share key negotiating records with Senators, who want to make certain the treaty protects American security and sovereignty. Viewing the records is the only way to ensure the Russians did not out negotiate Americans.
- Is the Administration committed to modernizing our nuclear weapons? Last year, 41 Senators demanded a roadmap for modernizing America’s nuclear weapons as a prerequisite to consideration of the New START treaty. The Administration must address concerns over language embedded in the treaty that may prevent essential modernization activities, which would produce a more safe, reliable and appropriate nuclear deterrence in the 21st century.
- Will the treaty inadvertently limit our conventional weapons capabilities? Potentially. The State Department has released contradictory “fact sheets” on the treaty, raising the possibility that the treaty inadvertently limits our conventional force capabilities.
- What’s the rush? The Senate took 429 days to ratify the previous START treaty. Despite the complexities of the treaty and valid concerns expressed by many Senators, the President has indicated he wants the treaty passed this year.
Take Action Now: Senators must know that America should not enter into a treaty that weakens our defensive capabilities and sovereignty. We need to stop the New START Treaty, now! Sign the petition to make your voices heard.
