America looks to a nuclear-free world
By John Kerry
Published: June 24 2008 19:26 | Last updated: June 24 2008 19:26
When candidates agree, it is not always front-page news. Election coverage hinges on conflict. Effective governance works differently. The next president must work to build consensus to get things done. Nuclear security is an excellent place to start; in fact, a remarkable bipartisan consensus is emerging that can help the 44th president revolutionise America’s policy towards nuclear weapons.
In October, Senator Barack Obama said that “America seeks a world in which there are no nuclear weapons”. This month, Senator John McCain gave an important policy address on nuclear non-proliferation, committing America to the same – if less specific – goal. For the first time in history, both main party candidates have agreed to put America on a path towards a world without nuclear weapons and all the risks they bring. The next president can turn this campaign promise into action by doing four things within six months of taking office:
First, engage the American people in this cause. Within the first 100 days, the next president should give a policy address demonstrating his commitment to a nuclear-weapons-free world. Generations have grown up never knowing anything but the old order of mutually assured destruction, but the stage is already set for a big policy shift. In fact, 17 of the 24 former secretaries of state and defence and national security advisers support moving towards a nuclear-free world. This bipartisan council of elders includes cold-eyed realists such as Henry Kissinger and George Schultz and defence hawks such as Sam Nunn and Bill Perry. The new president should bring this august group to the White House Rose Garden so Americans can see at first hand the face of a new consensus.
Second, create a new position: a deputy national security adviser to the president, whose sole responsibility is to prevent nuclear terrorism.
Third, empower this individual to lead an accelerated effort – a Manhattan Project in reverse: instead of racing to assemble a bomb, make sure nobody else can. We should aim to secure all “loose” nuclear material worldwide by the end of the next president’s first term and establish a global gold standard for their safe custody.
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