Consensus of Military and National Security Experts Call for Senate to Ratify New START

The Consensus for American Security, an initiative of the American Security Project, launched today with a strong declaration of support for Senate ratification of the New START Treaty.

"I am totally convinced that the provisions of New START are in the best interests of our country," said Admiral William Owens, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, U.S. Navy (Ret).  Admiral Owens urged the Senate to take the bi-partisan approach, pass the New START Treaty, and show the world the leadership they expect from the United States.

"New START is essential," added Lieutenant General Arlen "Dirk" Jameson, former Vice CINCSTRATCOM, U.S. Air Force (Ret).  Without the treaty, Jameson said, the United States would be "poorly equipped to monitor Russia's nuclear arsenal."  He added that the treaty "allows the United States to lead in pursuing greater cooperation with our allies" on transnational security issues like combatting proliferation and preventing nuclear terrorism.

Former Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Gary Hart (D-CO) also participated in the press conference launching the Consensus for American Security.

The Consensus, a project supported by Ploughshares Fund, is comprised of more than 30 retired military officers and national security experts who are "motivated by a sense of urgency to improve America's nuclear security, reduce the likelihood of terrorists obtaining nuclear materials, and confront the proliferation of nuclear weapons."  

Other notable Consensus members include former Secretary of State George Shultz, Chief Negotiator of the first START agreement Ambassador Richard Burt, Lieutenant General John Castellaw USMC (Ret), Lieutenant General Robert Gard USA (Ret), Vice Admiral Lee Gunn USN (Ret), Lieutenant General Donald Kerrick USA (Ret), Rear Admiral Rose Levitre USN (Ret), and several dozen other prominent Americans.

In conjunction with the conference call and website launch, the American Security Project placed online and print advertisements on behalf of the Consensus.  

To learn more about the Consensus for American Security, please visit www.securityconsensus.org.