Tony Thurmond: “Although I have reservations concerning the START II Treaty, I intend to support the resolution of ratification reported…”

“Although I have reservations concerning the START II Treaty, I intend to support the resolution of ratification reported from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Many of my concerns have been addressed in the package of amendments the Senate adopted on December 22, 1995, which were drafted by the Arms Control Observer Group. In addition to a number of hearings held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the Senate Armed Services Committee conducted two hearings on the military and national security implications of ratification of START II. The START II Treaty, signed by Presidents Bush and Yeltsin in January 1993, will hopefully contribute to the positive change in the relationship between the United States and the States of the former Soviet Union. If ratified and implemented by the United States and the Russian Federation, START II will represent a continuation of the unprecedented reduction of the strategic arsenals of both sides. But we must always keep in mind that reductions for the sake of reductions do not necessarily contribute to stability. Unless these reductions contribute to strategic stability, they can actually undermine our national security. If START II is implemented and complied with, I do believe that it will be stabilizing. If, however, its terms are modified to allow, for example, the retention of heavy, multiple- warhead ICBM's, then this agreement could actually be destabilizing.”