Political Quotes

“I thank the Chair. I want to make some introductory remarks about the START treaty this afternoon. My real interest lies in the closed session that will take place on a later date. But this is an important debate. I have deep respect for not just the chairman but for the ranking member. But like all Members, I have a passion for this issue. I want to make some general comments at this time about it. The threat of nuclear engagement between the United States and Russia has diminished greatly since we began arms reduction talks with the Soviets in the 1970s. It is a credit to the agreements of past years that the strategic relationship between the United States and Russia has evolved to a point where Americans and Russians no longer fear a war between NATO and Warsaw powers. The world has changed in many ways for the better as a result of those bilateral arms reduction efforts. But today, the United States and our allies face emerging and destabilizing nuclear threats from rogue nations and nonstate actors who have shown no willingness to follow or accept international standards or adhere to nonproliferation treaties.…”