Bob Kerrey: “That is precisely what section 1302 does. Section 1302 says the President cannot go below the START I levels. For the…”

“That is precisely what section 1302 does. Section 1302 says the President cannot go below the START I levels. For the first time, it restricted and tied the hands of a President in his own decisionmaking about strategic forces. That is what it did. I sought to strike it last year and was told the concern was the Duma might not ratify START II. They have done that. It seems to me the language gives the President, this President--I am asking the question because it affects whether or not I simply just declare victory myself and support your second-degree amendment. If your second-degree amendment gives the President the flexibility to waive, if he says, ``I have already done that review and I will submit to Congress the review that was done by General Shalikashvili in 1997,'' it may be we have agreement here. But if you are saying the intent of the amendment is to say President Clinton, after having been Commander in Chief for 7 years, is not sufficiently prepared to make this decision, we need a further review before he can make it, then I couldn't support the second degree.”