Treaty Ratification Undermines Security

Washington – Today, the U.S. Senate voted to ratify the controversial new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Throughout the summer and fall, Heritage Action for America worked to rally grassroots opposition to the treaty and educate Senators on the treaty’s numerous flaws. 26 Senators opposed the treaty – the most significant opposition to a ratified treaty in decades – because the Senate failed to address those flaws.

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“All eyes are now on the Obama administration,” Heritage Action CEO Michael A. Needham said. “Throughout the debate, they assured Senators and the American people that New START would not harm our national security.” “If the Russian government attempts to use the treaty to limit missile defense, refuses to negotiate in good faith regarding tactical nuclear weapons or continues to aid and abet Iran, the administration should immediately withdraw from the treaty,” Needham concluded. Conservative arms control experts raised substantive concerns with the treaty, such as limitations on missile defense, restrictions on non-nuclear offensive weapons, weak verification provisions and the amorphous role of the Bilateral Consultative Commission. These shortcomings have long term and wide ranging implications, one of which would be to tie the hands of future presidents. It should come as no surprise that potential Republican presidential contenders such as Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, John Thune, Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin expressed their opposition to the treaty. With more than 704,000 members across the country, The Heritage Foundation and its affiliate organization, Heritage Action for America, are committed to building an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity and a civil society flourish. New START hinders those objectives and Heritage Action will work with allies in Congress to mitigate the harm done to our national security. For more information, go to heritageforamerica.org.