Mike Thompson: “I rose on the floor on June 22 to address a matter of great concern to everyone, the issue of proliferation of weapons…”

“I rose on the floor on June 22 to address a matter of great concern to everyone, the issue of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. A couple of years ago, I was watching late night television and ran across a seminar being conducted by former Senator Sam Nunn. Someone asked him during a question and answer period what he considered to be the greatest threat to the United States of America. He mentioned terrorism and the new emerging threat of weapons of mass destruction. A short time after that, I was watching the Charlie Rose Show late one night with former Secretary of State Warren Christopher. When asked the same question, he gave the same answer: That post cold war, we have not concerned ourselves perhaps very much with some of these issues but that we should, and there are emerging threats out there. I think the Senator from West Virginia is contemplating a proposal that deals with this very issue. I have been specifically concerned with that issue with regard to China for a couple of reasons: One, they continue to lead the nations of the world in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, according to our intelligence community; two, because we are now getting ready to embark on the issue of permanent normal trade relations with China.”