Council for a Livable World

Political action to reduce nuclear threats

  • Elections
    • Senate Candidates
    • House Candidates
    • Political Analysis
    • Who We’ve Helped Elect
  • Legislation
    • Key National Security Legislation
    • National Security Legislative Calendar
    • Legislative Analysis
    • Legislative Achievements
  • Take Action
    • Issues
    • Join Our Email List
    • Become a Member
  • About
    • Staff
    • Press
    • Newsletter
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Blog / START Hearing with Former Secretary of State James Baker

May 19, 2010

START Hearing with Former Secretary of State James Baker

Today, Former Secretary of State James Baker— a key figure when the original START treaty was negotiated- testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the history of arms control and on the New START treaty.

He called New START a modest and appropriate continuation of START I, although questions on missile defense, verification and our nuclear umbrella need to be addressed.

Baker’s testimony emphasized the importance of arms control, arguing it is a “critical component of our security” as well as that of our allies. He further suggested that our security increases when diplomatic relations between two nations are characterized by openness rather than secrecy.

He said that the New START takes us in a direction that can enhance our security, improve our relationship with Russia, allow for a reduction in the number of warheads, and increase our ability to work to stem proliferation of nuclear weapons.

In regards to Republican questions about limits on missile defense, Baker said that, in his opinion, it should not be mentioned in the treaty at all- but (in response to Senator Corker) that it is normal to have ambiguous language, that the Russians have always feared our missile defense program, and that the limit on converting offensive missile silos was likely included because it is a meaningless concession that could lessen Russian fears.

In echoing Secretary Gates yesterday, Baker noted that building a missile defense system that would negate Russia’s nuclear arsenal would be destabilizing. Interestingly, Senator DeMint – in an attempt to suggest that the left wants to limit missile defense — wrongly stated that Secretary Clinton had said yesterday that our missile defense program is directed against rogue nations like North Korea or Iran and not Russia. In fact, it was Secretary Gates and not Secretary Clinton who made that statement. Finally, Baker also dismissed Senator Risch’s concerns about the differences between U.S. and Russian unilateral statements regarding missile defense.

Baker, while reminding the committee of his seven hour meeting with Tariq Aziz in 1991 in which he implied that the use of chemical weapons against U.S. forces would be met with a nuclear response, said that the U.S. should be wary of committing to not being able to meet biological or chemical threats with a nuclear response (a commitment made in the Nuclear Posture Review).

Also today, Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), speaking at the Nixon Center, derided the Obama Administration’s goal of zero nuclear weapons worldwide. Secretary Baker implicitly replied by noting that zero nuclear weapons is an admirable goal – and saying it should not be dismissed as “airy-fairy.” Secretary Baker specifically noted three conditions he thought necessary to achieve that goal:  1) negotiations with all nuclear threshold states and nuclear capable states at the table, 2) proportional reductions, and 3) unlimited treaty verification.  Senator Kyl’s speech more broadly focused on moral leadership and why he believes that leading by example is not an effective policy, a point to which Baker replied to today and Secretary of Defense replied to in hearings a few weeks ago.  

All in all, Baker made a modestly strong case  for the New START Treaty, the overall importance of arms control, and the relation of both to non-proliferation efforts.

Posted in: Blog

Tweets by Livable World

Recent Posts

  • Statement on the Passing of Former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder March 15, 2023
  • House Elections: Democratic and Republican Target Seats March 13, 2023
  • An early look at the 2024 House elections March 7, 2023
  • An early glimpse at 2024 Senate elections February 21, 2023
  • Press the Button: The Clock is Ticking February 14, 2023
Council for a Livable World logo

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.543.4100

Elections

  • Meet The Candidates
  • Senate Candidates
  • House Candidates
  • Who We’ve Helped Elect

Legislation

  • Key National Security Legislation
  • National Security Legislative Calendar
  • Legislative Achievements

Take Action

  • Issues
  • Join Our Email List
  • Become a Member

About

  • History & Mission
  • Staff
  • Press
  • Newsletter
  • Boards & Experts
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2023 Council for a Livable World
Privacy Policy