The Global Citizen: Nuclear Weapons

Breakthrough Agreement with North Korea

Julia Bunting | March 2nd, 2012
Topics: Arms Control

The United States and North Korea announced a breakthrough agreement earlier this week, with North Korea agreeing to suspend nuclear weapons testing and halt the enrichment of uranium in return for more than 200,000 metric tons of food aid. This food aid is crucial to the famine-stricken nation that has been subject to heavy sanctions, mostly due to its unbending commitment to a nuclear program.

The announcement is the first true sign of how North Korea's young, new leader Kim Jong-un, who took office last December following the unexpected death of his father Kim Jong-il, will approach international negotiations. While the negotiations began before his father's death, the announcement of an agreement highlights Kim's willingness to engage in negotiations to secure aid that helps solidify support at home.

"Apocalypse Never" Author Tad Daley on C-SPAN

Don Kraus | October 6th, 2011
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Arms Control, Fellows, Prevent War, WFI

Longtime CGS activist Tad Daley will appear on C-SPAN BOOK TV at 3 AM, 8:30 AM, and 4 PM EDT Sunday, October 9th. He'll be talking about his book APOCALYPSE NEVER: Forging the Path to a Nuclear Weapon Free World, and laying out his plan for abolishing nuclear weapons before they abolish us. Tad spoke at Busboys and Poets in Washington DC on August 9th, 2011, the 66th anniversary of the atomic obliteration of Nagasaki, in an event sponsored by Citizens for Global Solutions, Peace Action, and Progressive Democrats of America.

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New START Treaty: a Win for the US and the World

Don Kraus | December 22nd, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament, Prevent War

The United States Senate agreed to the New START Treaty today. The bilateral nuclear arms treaty passed with bipartisan support by a 71 to 26 margin. Today's rollcall vote came after months of highly partisan debate and despite a packed Senate schedule.

Adoption of this treaty demonstrates a commitment to responsible and cooperative U.S. global engagement. President Obama, Vice-President Biden, and Senators Kerry, Lugar, and Reid deserve special praise for their vision and leadership. New START's approval is also testament to the courageous 13 Republicans who placed national security above obstructive partisan politics.

Reid's Choice - Kyl's Folly

Don Kraus | November 22nd, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament, Prevent War

The New START nukes treaty is at a critical make it or break it moment. The administration and Majority Leader Reid are determined to ratify this important disarmament agreement. Senator Reid is going to make the vote happen. Will the right number of Senators acknowledge their responsibilities to keep this country safer and vote for the treaty?

Pull 'em Together Harry

Don Kraus | November 10th, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Prevent War

As posted on the Huffington Post:

Harry, it looks like you defied the odds in Nevada and are going to be in D.C. for another six years. Amen. But winning elections is one thing. If you seriously want to prove that you still have the chops to remain Majority leader in the next Congress, it's time to get serious about finishing the current Congress on a winning consensus-building note.

While there are certainly many important issues on your plate that are far from guaranteed, why not show your true leadership skills? Pass the New START nuclear draw-down treaty. It has strong bipartisan support and is a security no-brainer.

New START Bipartisan Victory in Foreign Relations Committee

Don Kraus | September 17th, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament

Five months after being signed by the President, the New START treaty successfully made it out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC). Fourteen senators voted for it and four against after a long and heated debate over issues like missile defense and nuclear modernization. Three Republicans threw their chips in favor of New START.

This is a major win for the arms control advocacy community, given that until just a few days ago, it wasn't clear how some influential GOP senators on the treaty were going to vote. With a Democratic majority in the committee, the treaty would have been voted out regardless. But the treaty will need 67 votes on the floor (read: at least 8 Republicans) to be ratified, which is no easy task in this divided Senate.

New START ratification is delayed... but hopefully not for long.

Meg McDermott | September 3rd, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament

Last week Senator Lugar got on C-SPAN and stated that "for the moment, this [New START treaty] is not a crucial situation," implying that a delayed vote wouldn't really make a difference for American intelligence on Russian nukes. But a few weeks ago he told Washington Post reporter Mary Beth Sheridan that a delay in the ratification schedule for New START "is very serious and impacts our national security."

So which is it? As so many experts have pointed out, perhaps the most important selling point on New START is the fact that there haven't been inspectors on the ground in Russian nuclear facilities in 270+ days. Senator Lugar embraced the idea, but now his tune has changed. It's a surprising about-face, even if it's a subtle one. Especially since it's coming from Lugar - the Senate's in-house nuclear disarmament expert and the voice of reason on New START.

New START and Senate Processes: A Critique of Last Resort?

Meg McDermott | August 23rd, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament

Stephen Rademaker's recent piece in the Washington Post is the latest in a series of offensives against the New START treaty with Russia. He falsely plants the blame for the delayed ratification schedule on the Democrats, although it is the Republicans who have spent the past few months scrambling to hold the treaty hostage to political maneuvering. On the plus side, he implicitly concedes that the debate on the content of the treaty is essentially over - he has no beef with the text or implications of New START. At a loss for substantive things to critique, he turns to an otherwise tedious and boring topic: Senate processes.

Maroon 5 Drops F-Bomb to oppose Dropping the H-Bomb

Douglass Butler | August 5th, 2010
Topics: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Nuclear Disarmament

Two members of Maroon 5, a widely popular American rock band, recently taped a PSA in support of new-START and the film Countdown to Zero. They are part of a growing number of musicians who have spoken out in support of the new-START treaty. You can watch the video below. The video is somewhat NSFW and includes questionable content, but it's ok to drop the f-bomb if it is supporting a nuclear weapons free world.

Lessons from Hiroshima

Marc Gimbel | August 5th, 2010
Topics: Nuclear Disarmament

August 6th marks the 65th anniversary of Hiroshima. The atomic bomb, dropped from an American B-29 war plane on the morning of August 6, 1945, killed 140,000 people; some were incinerated mid-step on the pavement. In addition to U.N Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, a U.S Ambassador will be present at the Japanese commemoration for the first time.