Clear Consensus: 60 Experts Agree On Top Three Nuclear Non-Proliferation Priorities for Obama

The Center for Arms Control
and Non-Proliferation today released its recommendations for how the
Obama Administration can effectively address the gravest threat to U.S.
security: the spread of nuclear weapons and materials.

The report summarizes consultations held during 2008 with 60 leading
non-proliferation policy experts. The experts included scientists,
academics, members of Congress, senior congressional staffers, and
representatives from advocacy groups, think tanks, and foundations.
There was a clear consensus on the top three priorities for the
incoming Obama team.

1. Provide a new direction on nuclear weapons policy
2. Secure all vulnerable fissile material in four years
3. Seek ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

The full report and a list of participants are available online.

"Every presidential candidate since 2000 has said that loose
nuclear weapons are the most serious threat to international security.
Yet for the past eight years we've done very little to address loose
nukes seriously," said John Isaacs, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. "What we need now is strong leadership as promised by President-elect Obama during the campaign."

Several key events in the next two years - such as the expiration of
the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in December 2009, the
Administration's 2009 Nuclear Posture Review, and the 2010 Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference - will force key
decisions and provide opportunities for change, the report notes.

"A clear presidential commitment to making progress on further
nuclear weapons reductions with Russia and to ratifying the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will go a long way. It will signal
American re-engagement with the world to reduce the risk of nuclear
proliferation," said Leonor Tomero, director for nuclear non-proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. "These are key steps to strengthen U.S. security."

The full report and a list of participants are available online.