Political Quotes

“Madam President, I would like to speak briefly on the New START treaty and state the reasons I believe the Senate should go ahead and ratify this treaty. Let me highlight some key points on, first, what the treaty accomplishes. Let me mention four things. No. 1, it reduces the number of deployed nuclear warheads by a relatively small number; that is, it takes us from 2,200, which is what we were required to reduce to under the Moscow Treaty, down to 1,550. Second, its counting regime is not based on attributing a number of warheads to a launch system but, instead, like the 2002 Moscow Treaty, this treaty actually requires the counting of deployed warheads. Third, this treaty reestablishes a verification regime of inspectors on the ground. This is something which lapsed a year ago when START I lapsed. Fourth, this treaty still maintains a credible nuclear deterrent against Russia, against China, against anyone who might threaten our country. Before discussing some of these points in detail, let me put the New START treaty in some historical perspective, at least as I see it. As this chart graphically demonstrates, at the peak of the Cold War some 30 years ago there were about 60,000 nuclear warheads. That is clearly an astounding number given that a single warhead would destroy most major American cities and most major cities anywhere in the world.…”