Arizona Editorial FORUM | 12/06/2010
 
Stop Playing Politics with Our National Security: Pass New START
By: Ruben Gallego
OP ED
Arizona Senator Jon Kyl is playing politics with our national security. By delaying the immediate ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), he is disregarding a bipartisan consensus of the U.S. Senate and the strong endorsement of our military and security leaders. When asked for a statement last week regarding the ratification of New START, Senator Kyl left America disappointed. When Majority Leader Harry Reid asked me if I thought the treaty could be considered in the lame duck session, Kyl said, I replied I did not think so, given the combination of other work Congress must do and the complex and unresolved issues related to START and modernization. Senator Kyl, New START is not overly complex. There are not issues yet to be resolved. And to further stall ratification is to ignore the single greatest threat to our nation. Last December, the U.S. lost its ability to monitor Russia's nuclear stockpile. The expiration of the original START marked the first time in nearly 20 years that the U.S. would not have direct, on-the-ground intelligence regarding the location and security of Russia's nuclear weapons. With terrorists and rogue states intent on obtaining nuclear material, we cannot afford to have this kind of intelligence blind spot. Last April, Presidents Obama and Medvedev signed New START, which would reinstate this verification system envisioned by the Reagan administration and enacted by President George H.W. Bush. New START will also allow the U.S. to maintain a secure and effective nuclear arsenal while improving our missile defense system. We will ensure stability and predictability between the U.S. and Russia, an indispensable relationship during an unstable era of war and terror. America needs Russia as an ally to stand strong against nations like Iran and North Korea, who are trying to get their hands on nuclear weapons. And America needs Russia as an ally to execute effective arms reduction. During the Cold War, we needed thousands of nuclear weapons to defend ourselves. Today, with international terrorism, those same weapons put us in danger. Osama bin Laden has told us that he considers it his religious duty to gain control of a weapon of mass destruction. Russia and the U.S. control over 90 percent of the world's tens of thousands of nuclear weapons: enough firepower to destroy the entire world several times over. This is an unnecessary and irresponsible amount. The more weapons we have lying around, the harder they are to monitor, and the easier it is for bin Laden or Al Qaeda to steal a weapon from under our noses. Therefore, it's imperative that we swiftly reinstate our system of monitoring and reducing our weapons. New START has a strong bipartisan backing in the Senate, as well as bipartisan support from five former secretaries of defense, five former secretaries of state, and five former national security advisers. They are joined by seven former commanders of U.S. Strategic Command and the entire current U.S. military leadership. Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed that this treaty is essential to our future security. I believe it enhances and ensures that security. And I hope the Senate will ratify it quickly. As a Marine and an Iraq war veteran, I stand with my chain of command. But Senator Kyl, ignoring the advice of our military leaders and the magnitude of the threats of a war on terrorism, would rather wait. Senator Kyl, it's time to put boots back on the ground in Russia. Every day that we wait to ratify this treaty is another day that we leave Russia's weapons unmonitored. As a veteran of the Marine Corps and a resident of Arizona, I call on you to champion the ratification of New START during the lame duck session. As Secretaries Clinton and Gates warned, "Our national security depends on it."
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Gallego was recently elected State Representative (District 16). He served a tour in Iraq with Lima Company, 3/25 Marines, and is a graduate of Harvard University.
Copyright (C) 2010 by the Arizona Editorial FORUM. The Forum is an educational organization that provides the media with the views of state experts on major public issues. Letters should be sent to the Forum, P.O. Box 25369, Phoenix, AZ 85002. (12/06/2010)  TOP
PRESS RELEASE
" Arizona Senator Jon Kyl is playing politics with our national security," says State Rep. Ruben Gallego (District-16). "By delaying the immediate ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), he is disregarding a bipartisan consensus of the U.S. Senate and the strong endorsement of our military and security leaders. "
" New START is not overly complex," says Gallego in an article for the Arizona Editorial Forum. " There are not issues yet to be resolved. And to further stall ratification is to ignore the single greatest threat to our nation. "
" Last December, the U.S. lost its ability to monitor Russia's nuclear stockpile," he explains. " The expiration of the original START marked the first time in nearly 20 years that the U.S. would not have direct, on-the-ground intelligence regarding the location and security of Russia's nuclear weapons. With terrorists and rogue states intent on obtaining nuclear material, we cannot afford to have this kind of intelligence blind spot. "
" New START will also allow the U.S. to maintain a secure and effective nuclear arsenal while improving our missile defense system," Gallego adds. "We will ensure stability and predictability between the U.S. and Russia, an indispensable relationship during an unstable era of war and terror. America needs Russia as an ally to stand strong against nations like Iran and North Korea, who are trying to get their hands on nuclear weapons. And America needs Russia as an ally to execute effective arms reduction. "
" New START has a strong bipartisan backing in the Senate, as well as bipartisan support from five former secretaries of defense, five former secretaries of state, and five former national security advisers," he states. "They are joined by seven former commanders of U.S. Strategic Command and the entire current U.S. military leadership. "
"Senator Kyl, it's time to put boots back on the ground in Russia," Gallego concludes. "Every day that we wait to ratify this treaty is another day that we leave Russia's weapons unmonitored. As an Iraq war veteran and a resident of Arizona, I call on you to champion the ratification of New START during the lame duck session. "
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT/GUEST EDITORIAL
Last December, the U.S. lost its ability to monitor Russia's nuclear stockpile. The expiration of the original Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty marked the first time in nearly 20 years that the U.S. would not have direct, on-the-ground intelligence regarding the location and security of Russia's nuclear weapons. With terrorists and rogue states intent on obtaining nuclear material, the United States cannot afford to have this kind of intelligence blind spot.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty has a strong bipartisan backing in the Senate, as well as bipartisan support from five former secretaries of defense, five former secretaries of state, and five former national security advisers.
It's time to put boots back on the ground in Russia. Every day that the Senate waits to ratify this treaty is another day that Russia's weapons remain unmonitored.
About Ruben Gallego:
Gallego was recently elected State Representative (District 16). He served a tour in Iraq with Lima Company, 3/25 Marines, and is a graduate of Harvard University.
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