“President Obama has often stated that a mushroom cloud over Manhattan is what keeps him up at night but his budget request slashed hundreds of millions of dollars from critical programs that keep dangerous nuclear and radiological materials out of the hands of terrorists,” said Kingston Reif, the Center’s Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Programs. “Millions in cuts and poor planning will mean that key target goals to secure materials and protect facilities will slip.”
OCO, WARTHOGS, GTRI, AND SSBNX: Making Sense of the Alphabet Soup & Nickname Game that is the NDAA
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation will host a press call with Lt. General Robert Gard and John Isaacs to outline key provisions of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as it moves to the House floor.
100 Experts Write to President Obama over Severe Non-Proliferation Spending Cuts
In reference to the cuts, former Senator Dorgan said: “Terrorist groups are working overtime to acquire nuclear weapons with which to terrorize the world. Our country needs to show leadership in preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons. Cutting federal spending now on the nuclear non-proliferation programs would be a very dangerous mistake.”
Afghan Elections Should Herald Return of American Troops After a Decade of War
“Regardless of the status U.S. force would have in Afghanistan, the United States has done what it can in Afghanistan. After thousands of lives and billions of dollars, it’s time to end a decade of war and bring our troops home,” said Isaacs.
Nuclear Summit Showed Continued Commitment to Global Security, Questions Remain
“These achievements enhance U.S. and global security by reducing the risk of nuclear terrorism,” added Reif. “Despite this important progress, however, many important countries with large amounts of nuclear material did not sign-up to key gift baskets, there is still no global requirement for how secure nuclear material should be, and it remains to be seen what international institution or forum will be responsible for sustaining continuous attention and progress on nuclear security once the Summit process ends in 2016.”
