Obama for America

DEBATE REALITY CHECK: NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

Tonight, Sarah Palin said: “For those countries, North Korea also under Kim Jung Il, we have to make sure we are putting the economic sanctions on the economy and we have friends and allies supporting us to make sure that leaders like Kim Jung Il and Ahmadinejad are not allowed to proliferate or use those nuclear weapons, it is that important. [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]

The Facts: Obama Worked Across The Aisle To Keep WMDs Out Of The Hands Of Terrorists. McCain Opposed The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.


FACT: OBAMA WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE TO KEEP WMDs OUT OF THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS WHILE MCCAIN HAS SHOWN NO LEADERSHIP ON NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUES

· Obama And Lugar Passed Law Boosting U.S. Efforts To Keep WMDs And Other Dangerous Weapons Out Of The Hands Of Terrorists. In 2006, Obama and Lugar introduced The Cooperative Proliferation Detection Act, which was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously on May 26, 2006 and was eventually incorporated into the Department of State Authorities Act of 2006 and signed into law on January 11, 2007. … The legislation authored by Chairman Lugar and Senator Obama enhances: (1) U.S. cooperation with foreign governments to destroy conventional weapons stockpiles around the world; and (2) the United States' ability to provide assistance to foreign governments aimed at helping them detect and interdict weapons and materials of mass destruction. …The initiative was modeled after the Nunn-Lugar program that focuses on weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union. The legislation was signed into law on January 11, 2007, as a part of H.R. 6060, the Department of State Authorities Act of 2006.” [P.L. 109-472 , 1/11/07; House Report 109-706 , 9/3/06; S. 2566 , 109th Congress; S.1949 , 109th Congress; Senate Report 110-40 , 3/29/07]

o Lugar-Obama Strengthens The Ability “To Detect And Intercept Illegal Shipments Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction That Could Be Used In A Nuclear, Chemical, Or Biological Weapon.” Obama and Lugar: “The other part of the legislation would strengthen the ability of America's friends and allies to detect and intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction or material that could be used in a nuclear, chemical or biological weapon.” [Washington Post, 12/3/05 ]

· For 26 years In Washington, McCain Showed No Leadership On Preventing Nuclear Proliferation/Nuclear Terrorism. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association stated: “The majority of people following the issue would point out McCain has not taken a leadership role on nonproliferation during his career in the Senate.” In response to the Obama campaign statement from spokesman Bill Burton that “John McCain has not led on nonproliferation issues when he had the chance in the Senate", the non-partisan website politicalfact.com concluded: “a look at McCain’s record on nonproliferation shows he mostly showed up for key votes but didn’t influence debates” and “we don't find much in McCain's Senate record to refute the charge of the Obama camp. We say, True.” [Politifact, accessed 9/24/08 ]

· Nuclear Experts Said McCain’s Speech On Non-Proliferation “Did Not Break Significant New Ground.” “Nuclear experts said McCain did not break significant new ground, but they welcomed the focus on the issue. ‘McCain's speech, while vague in several key areas, reflects the emerging bipartisan consensus in favor of renewed U.S. leadership on nuclear disarmament that is needed to win support for steps needed to shore up the beleaguered global nonproliferation system,’ said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association. He said it was ‘a welcome start’ that candidates are focused ‘on this underreported issue in the campaign.’” [Washington Post, 5/28/08 ]

FACT: MCCAIN OPPOSED COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY AND IS UNSURE IF HE WOULD SUPPPORT IT NOW

· McCain Voted Against An International Ban On Nuclear Weapons Testing. In 1999, McCain voted against a resolution of ratification accompanying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Resolution of ratification rejected 48-51. [Treaty Doc. 105-28, Vote #325 , 10/13/99]

· McCain Said He Would Take A “Second Look” At The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. McCain said “that the United States should work with Russia on nuclear disarmament and the reduction of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe — positions his campaign called a ‘significant departure’ from Bush administration policies. … His plan, he said, included not only working on nuclear issues with Russia but also with China, which should be encouraged to move toward nuclear arsenal reductions and a moratorium of additional ‘fissile material.’ He also vowed to take a second look at the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to see whether the ‘shortcomings’ that led him to vote against it in 1999 could be overcome. And he said he would seriously consider Russia's proposal to take the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty global. The agreement between Russia and the U.S. eliminated certain types of ballistic and cruise missiles.” [Denver Post, 5/28/08 ]