Trent Lott: “if I could respond on that. I do think that a critical part of our decision involves the armed services aspect of it.…”

“if I could respond on that. I do think that a critical part of our decision involves the armed services aspect of it. The review of nuclear weapons--what their condition is, what it will be, what it means for the future--that is at the heart of the concerns that a lot of Senators have, including this Senator. I have enough background, having been on the Armed Services Committee in the House and the Senate, to be able to assess, as most Senators, after reading the documentation, the ramifications around the world. But if we cannot be assured of the safety and the reliability of these weapons, then that goes right to the heart of the whole issue. Before you get to discussion about what it means to Pakistan or India or North Korea, you need to know what is going to happen over a period of time in terms of safety, the risk to people in the areas, or the surety that we will have these weapons if, in fact, we do need them. I say to Senator Warner, you and I have discussed this already. I know that is the crux of what you are saying.”