May 19, 2009 5:04 PM

Obama Calls Reduction Of Nuclear Arms One Of His Highest Priorities

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
World Affairs
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Obama on Tuesday reiterated his message that the United States must be a leader in the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons in order to meet the security challenges of the future.

"It is absolutely imperative that America takes leadership, working with not just our Russian counterparts but countries all around the world, to reduce and ultimately eliminate the dangers that are posed by nuclear weapons," Mr. Obama said. "We are going to be pushing this as one of our highest priorities, to take specific steps, measurable steps, verifiable steps, to make progress on this issue, even as we keep a long-term perspective and a long-term vision about what can be achieved."

He said the goal is particularly important because countries like North Korea and Iran are developing nuclear weapons capacity, and because of al Qaeda's presence in nuclear-armed Pakistan.

The president spoke after meeting Tuesday with four bipartisan national security leaders: former secretaries of state George Shultz and Henry Kissinger, former Defense Secretary William Perry and former Senator Sam Nunn. Mr. Obama said the four men have inspired his administration's policies, particularly its goal to make the United States a leader in an effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

"I don't think anybody would accuse these four gentlemen of being dreamers," he said. "They're hard-headed, tough defenders of American interests and American security."

The president launched his effort to eliminate nuclear weapons in Prague last month. Today, he said the United States can take specific actions like revitalizing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and working with the Russians to reduce the two country's dependence on nuclear weapons. He also suggested moving forward on a comprehensive test ban treaty.

"It's going to require more work, but I think that we can get something accomplished there, and we can lock down loose nuclear weapons that could fall into the hands of terrorists," he said.

Add a Comment
by taryder May 19, 2009 7:14 PM EDT
Who is going to listen to Obama and the United States when we CONDONE TORTURE & WAR CRIMES. We are bombing THREE COUNTRIES right now.....Is this a joke or what? I guess it is ok if the United States kills and tortures people.
Perhaps we need to SET AN EXAMPLE by our ACTIONS! Those in the United States government that gave the ok on TORTURE need to be prosectued to the fullest!

I guess Obama has forgotten his campaign promise of starting to get us out of Iraq his FIRST DAY IN OFFICE. It appears that NOW with Obama we have THREE WARS going strong.
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by sjc_1 May 19, 2009 6:41 PM EDT
Reagan may have been the anti Christ but Kissenger was Dr. Strangelove. It took an evil demon like Teller to persuade Reagan that Star Wars could actually be built and would work. $100 billion and 20 years later, we know this was foolish.
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by davidwaters May 19, 2009 6:39 PM EDT
I think it's great that Obama is taking the lead on the global mission to rid the world of nuclear arms. I would also like to see Obama take the lead on other global issues such as severe poverty.
The Borgen Project has good info on the estimated cost of ending global poverty:

$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.

$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget.
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti May 19, 2009 6:21 PM EDT
I guess that is one thing that the nightmare loser that was Reagan agreed with. At least Reagan is only the 2nd worst President of all time now.
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