On June 18, Oklahoma Republican Senator James Inhofe became the first and thus far only U.S. Senator to outline publicly his opposition to the U.S.-Russian nuclear arms agreement.
In his Senate floor speech, Inhofe stated: “I remain concerned about several critical pieces of this security treaty: modernization, force structure, missile defense, verification and most importantly, our overall ability to deter our enemies.”
Inhofe pointed out that he was delivering his remarks the day after the first Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the treaty.
What Inhofe did not point out was that he did not attend that Armed Services Committee hearing.
Nor has Inhofe, a member of both Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, attended a single one of the latter committee’s seven public hearings.
Not one. He has a perfect record of not attending a single hearing.
He asked not a single question of important witnesses: not about modernization, force structure, missile defense, verification or deterrence.
Thus when Secretaries Robert Gates, Hillary Clinton and Steven Chu, plus the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded to his concerns, he was nowhere to be found.
When the head of the U.S. Strategic Command and the Missile Defense Agency explained that nuclear weapons and missile defense are well-protected in the treaty and by Administration policy, Inhofe was not around to listen.
When former senior Republican security officials such as James Schlesinger, James Baker, Henry Kissinger, Brent Scowcroft and Stephen Hadley strongly endorsed the treaty, Inhofe did not pay attention.
One can only conclude that Inhofe made a strictly ideological decision without bothering to listen to any contrary facts.
If half of life is showing up, Sen. Jim Inhofe has failed.
In his conclusion, Senator Inhofe demands: “This Senate must continue to hold a series of follow on hearings that will provide all committees of jurisdiction greater details on the military, political, technical, and intelligence issues associated with new START ratification.”
When the Senate holds more hearings, will Inhofe bother to show up?
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Senator Inhofe’s Attendance Record at Hearings on New START
April 29, 2010
Former Secretaries of Defense James Schlesinger and William Perry before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
May 18, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
May 19, 2010
Former Secretary of State James Baker before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
May 25, 2010
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
June 8, 2010
Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller and Secretary of Defense Representative to Post-START Negotiations Edward Warner before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Secret/Closed
June 10, 2010
Former national security advisors Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft and Stephen Hadley before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
June 15, 2010
Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller and Secretary of Defense Representative to Post-START Negotiations Edward Warner before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
June 16, 2010
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense James Miller, General Kevin Chilton, and Lieutenant General Patrick O’Reilly before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
June 17, 2010
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu before Senate Armed Services Committee
Sen. Inhofe absent
