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Military,
Intelligence, And Scientific Leaders Call For Action On Test Ban Treaty, Counter Majority
Leader Lott
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WASHINGTON
- June 3 - The Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests are a
wake-up call for those who question the importance of the CTBT to US security.
In the wake of the recent Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests, prestigious nuclear weapons
experts yesterday sent a joint letter to the US Senate calling for swift ratification of
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Signed by leaders of the military, intelligence, and
scientific communities, the letter underscores how current efforts to maintain the US
nuclear arsenal are effective, why the test ban treaty is verifiable, and how the treaty
can ease tensions in South Asia.
The letter also responds to recent criticisms of the treaty from Senate Majority Leader
Trent Lott (R-MS). Lott has called the test ban "unverifiable and ineffective"
and suggests that it is "irrelevant" to the current crisis in South Asia. These
experts disagree. They write that nuclear testing is not needed to maintain the US arsenal
and that the treaty will improve the US ability to detect nuclear explosions.
Moreover, they write, "The US must take the lead in locking in the test ban
regime before other nations follow India and Pakistan’s path. ... In the interest of
US national security, the Senate must consent to ratification of the CTBT without
delay."
Signers of particular note include:
o Admiral William Crowe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents Reagan and
Bush
o Admiral Stansfield Turner, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency under President
Carter
o Dr. Hans Bethe, Nobel laureate and head of the theoretical division of the Manhattan
Project
o Dr. Henry Kendall, Nobel laureate, Chairman of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and
Professor of Physics at MIT.
If you would like to arrange an interview with any of the signers,
please contact Tom Collina or Rich Hayes at 202-332-0900.
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