Nuclear Disarmament enters the mainstream
- McCain speech supports Getting to Zero
BASIC Media Advisory
Wednesday, 28 May 2008 - IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Republican Presidential candidate John McCain yesterday gave
a landmark speech
on the responsibility to engage more seriously in disarmament.
Paul Ingram, Director of BASIC, said: "This is the
clearest indication yet that nuclear disarmament has now achieved
the mainstream - and it is now out of touch to oppose it.
This is a speech that represents a clear departure not only
from the current Administration, but also John McCain's past
record. It is a landmark for those working towards the mainstreaming
of multilateral disarmament and in opposition to unilateralism
and the modernization of nuclear forces."
McCain has clearly distanced himself from the record of the
current Administration:
"If you look back over the past two decades, I don't
think any of us, Republican or Democrat, can take much satisfaction
in what we've accomplished to control nuclear proliferation...
No problem we face poses a greater threat to us and the
world than nuclear proliferation."
There were a number of remarkable features of this speech.
McCain emphasised the importance of the bipartisan approach:
"The truth is we will only address the terrible prospect
of the worldwide spread of nuclear arms if we transcend
our partisan differences, combine our energies, learn from
our past mistakes, and seek practical and effective solutions."
He emphasised the role of international cooperation:
"It is a vision not of the United States acting alone,
but building and participating in a community of nations
all drawn together in this vital common purpose... We must
strengthen existing international treaties and institutions
to combat proliferation, and develop new ones when necessary...
The United States cannot and will not stop the spread of
nuclear weapons by unilateral action. We must lead concerted
and persistent multilateral efforts. As powerful as we are,
America's ability to defend ourselves and our allies against
the threat of nuclear attack depends on our ability to encourage
effective international cooperation."
He outlined his support for a larger and more powerful IAEA,
for international fuel banks available to those that renounce
their own enrichment and reprocessing facilities, and an international
repository for spent nuclear fuel.
He signed up to the vision of a nuclear weapon free world:
"A quarter of a century ago, President Ronald Reagan
declared, "our dream is to see the day when nuclear weapons
will be banished from the face of the Earth." That is my
dream, too... Such weapons, while still important to deter
an attack with weapons of mass destruction against us and
our allies, represent the most abhorrent and indiscriminate
form of warfare known to man."
He talked of an early nuclear posture review, with deep cuts
the intention:
"I will seek to reduce the size of our nuclear arsenal
to the lowest number possible consistent with our security
requirements and global commitments. Today we deploy thousands
of nuclear warheads. It is my hope to move as rapidly as
possible to a significantly smaller force."
While clearly unwilling to turn his face against all new
warheads, he says:
"I would only support the development of any new type
of nuclear weapon that is absolutely essential for the viability
of our deterrent, that results in making possible further
decreases in the size of our nuclear arsenal, and furthers
our global nuclear security goals."
... and then goes on to explicitly rule out the Robust Nuclear
Earth Penetrator.
In contrast to the current Administration, he understands
the need to continue the verification measures at the heart
of the START arrangements with Russia:
"we should be able to agree with Russia on binding
verification measures based on those currently in effect
under the START Agreement, to enhance confidence and transparency."
... and the need to work rapidly towards the abolition of
tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, and to collaborate with
Russia over missile defense, and sharing early warning data.
He also committed to increasing Cooperative Threat Reduction
funding.
He supports the establishment of a fissile material treaty,
and the further development of the Proliferation Security
Initiative. But perhaps most remarkably, given the politics
of the issue in Washington and having opposed ratification
in 1999, he advocates 'taking another look at the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty', hinting that technical developments may
have been sufficient in the meantime to win sufficient confidence
and support in Congress.
For further information please contact:
Paul Ingram
Executive Director
+44 (0)7908 708175
pingram at basicint.org
or Kim Waller
+44 (0)20 7324 4680
ENDS
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