Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) Update – Feb. 18, 2010
Vice President Joe Biden has just concluded a speech at the National Defense University on “The Future of U.S. Nuclear Deterrence.” In his remarks, Biden articulated the arms control agenda of the Obama Administration, featuring the importance of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and a new START agreement with Russia .
Whether or not our Senators were watching, and whether or not your local papers deem it newsworthy, the speech provides an important opportunity for letters on the urgency of moving forward with nuclear arms control measures.
Please consider:
a) Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, and
b) Writing to Sen. Judd Gregg, who is still undecided on the CTBT and START.
Biden outlined the key points of the Administration’s agenda to reduce the role of nuclear weapons, which include:
- Bolstering the budgets of the national weapons labs to better monitor the safety and reliability of the existing nuclear weapons stockpile without new tests or warhead designs;
- Completing the new START agreement with Russia ;
- Strengthening measures to secure vulnerable nuclear materials, which will be the topic of a summit in April;
- Rallying support for stronger non-proliferation measures during the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May;
- Beginning negotiations for a treaty cutting off production of fissile materials; and
- Ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
The VP concluded with what might be the most important point to cite:
“The horror of nuclear conflict may make its occurrence unlikely, but … the very existence of nuclear weapons leaves the human race ever at the brink of self-destruction.”
(For a copy of the actual text, send me an email at ctbt@nhpeaceaction.org.)
(For news coverage of the speech, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/18/AR2010021803293.html.)
Key points to emphasize:
- Nuclear weapons do not protect us. To the contrary, their very existence is a threat to U.S. security and to life on earth.
- Advanced technology makes it possible to verify compliance with the CTBT. Moreover, once the treaty enters into force, on-site inspections can be ordered if cheating is suspected.
- There is scientific consensus that explosive tests are not needed to prove the safety and reliability of nuclear weapons.
- Nuclear nations and those which may aspire to join the club need tests to develop new warhead designs. A ban on nuclear testing would block such developments.
- The USA has already observed a nuclear testing moratorium for 18 years.
The best source for background on these and other points is a new website from the Arms Control Association, at www.projectforthectbt.org.
Tips on writing letters to the editor:
- Keep them brief. Many papers will tell you their suggested length. For example, the Union Leader says all letters must be 200 words or less.
- Keep them concise. Focus on one point, not everything that’s on your mind.
- Make them relevant. Tie them to something that was in the paper, e.g. an article about Biden’s speech.
- Make them timely. Tie them to something that was in the news, e.g. Biden’s speech.
You can submit letters by email or from the paper’s web site. Please let me know if they get published.
Senator Gregg
Treaty ratification requires 67 votes, two-thirds of the Senate. When these treaties get to the Senate floor, we want both New Hampshire ’s Senators to vote with the majority, for ratification. Although the CTBT may not come up this year, we still want Sen. Gregg to hear from his constituents about it.
To contact Sen. Gregg, go to his website at: http://gregg.senate.gov/contact/, or
send a fax to: (202) 224-4952.
Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
Arnie Alpert
NH Peace Action CTBT Project
18 February 2010
