Political Quotes

“In conclusion, Mr. President, I am very concerned that this administration is backing away from a nonproliferation policy. They want to repeal my amendment regarding Pakistan which is the only piece of nonproliferation legislation that has ever made it into law. There have been all sorts of speeches made on eliminating the weapons of mass destruction. There have been all sorts of speeches made about nuclear nonproliferation. But we really have not done anything about it except in the case of Pakistan. A lot of authorities say that sent signals to Brazil and South Africa and to Egypt and other countries that are in the preliminary process of developing nuclear weapons that have since backed off. But if we allow North Korea to get by with seven inspection sites, we are setting a new precedent. The IAEA no longer has the teeth to inspect anywhere, anytime, as Hans Bliz wants it to and as it is supposed to under the NPT. Now, as a supporter of that treaty and that concept, I have been very concerned that the North Korean example will set a new precedent in other countries insisting on just inspections at certain sites. So this amendment is an attempt to speak. It is hard to get at this legislatively. We have tried. I wish I could do more than a sense of the Senate. I do not know who is making nonproliferation policy in this administration, but it seems contrary to everything Bill Clinton has said in public.”