"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."

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.