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Late Breaking News |
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| Date: July 7, 1998 2:15 pm Contact: Physicians for Social Responsibility Sharon Pickett, 301-365-9307 |
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Latest News Releases
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Physicians Call on Clinton to Jump-Start Failed Nuclear Policies | ||
| WASHINGTON - July 7 - The following was released today by Physicians for
Social Responsibility: President Clinton announced today that arms control is on the agenda for his visit to Russia this September. Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) applauds this decision and calls on the president to use this historic opportunity to reverse what has been until now, a disappointing series of failed nuclear policies. President Bush signed two strategic arms reduction agreements, but after six years in office President Clinton has failed to complete any. After a promising start to the Clinton administration with the extension of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and completion of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the CTBT is now in trouble in the U.S. Senate and nonproliferation efforts are unraveling. The United States and Russia still possess a combined total of more than 18,000 operational nuclear weapons, a number only slightly lower than at the end of the Cold War. "START II is languishing on the point of collapse and might never be ratified," said Robert K. Musil, Ph.D., executive director of PSR. "Urgent resuscitation efforts are needed to keep the strategic arms reduction process alive. President Clinton should begin immediate negotiations with President Yeltsin on START III, and on removing nuclear warheads from hair-trigger alert status. This might provide the jump start needed to revive disarmament efforts and prolong the life of both countries." "There is nothing less than the health of the entire planet at stake in these decisions," said Ira Helfand, M.D., past president of PSR. "Russian weapons are less secure than at any time in history. Morale is low. The chain of command is not intact. Threats of terrorism or an accident are greater than ever. Time is not on our side. Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin simply must not pass up this chance to de-alert nuclear weapons and make significant progress on START III." Until now, President Clinton has refused to schedule an official visit to Russia, suggesting that he would visit only when the Duma ratified START II. PSR members are delighted at the president's new decision and believe that it is not too late for him to still achieve a START III agreement before he leaves office. But it will require making arms reductions a high priority and a willingness to apply the kinds of bold life support measures needed in an emergency situation. ------ AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS Robert K. Musil, Ph.D., is executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility. PSR is the American affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Musil has authored dozens of articles on military and foreign affairs and is currently adjunct professor in the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University. -0- |
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