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One third of U.S. nuclear weapons remain on launch-ready alert.
The U.S. is a pivotal player in resolving challenging proliferation challenges around the globe. Continued American leadership on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament is an essential ingredient for progress. We must persist in working toward policies and programs that will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense strategy.
Estimated total nuclear weapons: 9,400
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New Security Consensus Trumps Politics with New START Ratification
Statement of Ploughshares Fund Leadership
December 22, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kelly Bronk, 202.783.4401, kbronk@ploughshares.org
Washington, D.C. – In a 71-26 vote, the United States Senate today ratified the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Ploughshares Fund President Joe Cirincione and Executive Director Naila Bolus issued the following statements commending the Senate for approving this critical treaty.
Joe Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund:
“Today’s approval of New START demonstrates that a new security consensus has solidified among a strong bipartisan majority of military and national security leaders. They understand the most effective way to strengthen U.S. security is to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world and improve our ability to secure and track those that remain.
"The world would have seen delay or defeat of the treaty as evidence that the United States was fumbling its leadership role. Senate approval will be welcomed by our allies and friends as a sign that America is united, strong and determined to lead on global security.
"Treaty approval opens the way for more powerful global action on the key threats of Iran, North Korea and nuclear terrorism. It enhances our credibility and our security, and solidly rejects the recycled cold war strategies of the political fringe."
Naila Bolus, Executive Director of Ploughshares Fund:
“Today senators listened to the broad coalition of retired military officers, Democratic and Republican national security experts, religious communities and concerned citizens who urged them to put politics aside and do what was clearly in the national interest. The powerful, active engagement of this contemporary movement proved that even during these highly partisan times, a motivated public can help our political leaders find common cause and provide for our common security.
“I urge Congress and the Obama Administration to continue to take concrete steps to reduce the nuclear threats that we’re facing today and to move toward the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.”
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Ploughshares Fund is the largest grantmaking foundation in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to security and peace funding. For more information, please visit http://tinyurl.com/3m268qm.
Ploughshares Fund Experts Applaud Senate Foreign Relations Committee "Yes" Vote to Improve American Security
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 16, 2010
PRESS CONTACT: Kelly Bronk, (202) 783-4401, kbronk@ploughshares.org
Washington, DC – In a strong, bipartisan vote, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today passed the Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), sending the treaty to the full Senate for consideration.
“Today’s overwhelming Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote demonstrates the broad, bipartisan support for the New START Treaty in the Senate,” said Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation. “I applaud the members of the committee for putting national security above politics.”
“Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar did a superb job shepherding this treaty through committee in a difficult political environment,” said Rob Leonard, government affairs representative for Ploughshares Fund. “In a year of often fierce partisan debate, it is encouraging to see bipartisan agreement on national security.”
According to Cirincione, “The New START Treaty reduces Russian and U.S. deployed long-range nuclear arsenals to 1,550 warheads each. It is a modest, but important step toward reducing the nuclear threat and protecting America.” He noted that the treaty also contains a robust verification regime that will provide the United States with critical insight into Russia’s nuclear forces.
“The most important thing is getting U.S. inspectors back on the ground in Russia,” Cirincione said. “It has been 285 days without inspections of Russia’s nuclear weapons. This treaty extends and improves the verification regime developed by President Ronald Reagan. It takes ‘trust but verify’ into the 21st century.” Cirincione added that without inspections, over time, the loss of certainty between the U.S. and Russia can breed mistrust, which is especially dangerous when dealing with nuclear weapons.
“Retired military, former national security officials and tens of thousands of concerned citizens from Tennessee to Georgia to Utah joined forces with more than 50 non-governmental organizations in support of New START,” said Naila Bolus, executive director of Ploughshares Fund. “Their determined and persistent efforts helped Senators understand that the American people want this treaty.”
“The full Senate must act swiftly to ratify New START,” Cirincione said. “The national security benefits of the treaty are clear. The time to act is now.”
Ploughshares Fund is the largest grantmaking foundation in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to security and peace funding. For more information, please visit http://tinyurl.com/3m268qm.
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