Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, my amendment is something that really should be a no-brainer. It says we need to maintain strong and verifiable limits on Russia's nuclear forces. We all know that a robust nuclear deterrent has been a pillar of American security since the beginning of the Cold War, but so has arms control. Democratic and Republican administrations alike have used arms control agreements to constrain Russia's nuclear forces. These agreements have allowed us to keep eyes on the ground so we can confirm what the Russians are doing. They have stopped arms races. They have strengthened peace. I fear this administration wants to throw all of that out the window. The President's withdrawal from the INF Treaty is sending us down a dangerous path toward a renewed nuclear arms race. Don't get me wrong: Russia's violation of the INF Treaty is unacceptable, but the question is how we respond to it. Instead of using diplomacy and pressure to push the Russians back into compliance, the administration is following Russia's lead and walking away. This sends a terrible message and signals a broader ideological contempt for the value of arms control. Now the debate is shifting to New START. This treaty has won the praise of diplomats and defense and intelligence officials as a tool for advancing our national security interests. It allows us to keep a lid on competition with a hostile Russia.…”