RESEARCH MEMO: A Contentious New START: The Debate over the New Treaty
A Contentious New START: A Snapshot of the Debate over the New START Treaty.
INSS Research Memo October 19, 2010
By Vince Manzo
The debate over the Treaty has unfolded in congressional hearings, at think tank events, in op-ed pages, and in the blogosphere. And it is all accessible on the internet. As a result, even though the Treaty has yet to come to the Senate floor for a full debate, the arguments for and against Treaty ratification have already solidified in the broader national security policy community. The Obama administration and other treaty supporters have made their case and responded to concerns about the verifiability of the Treaty, its implications for U.S. missile defenses and Conventional Prompt Global Strike, and many other issues. Congressional and independent opponents of New START have also voiced their opinions. Two Republican senators on the Foreign Relations Committee who were “on the fence” voted for the committee’s resolution to ratify New START, but many of the Treaty’s critics remain unconvinced. This Research Memorandum provides a snapshot of this debate. It attempts to capture the most common arguments voiced by supporters and opponents of the Treaty.
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