“Congressional leaders are coming to realize that Pentagon spending is coming down as the wars are coming to an end. Smart strategy has to be employed to make sure we reduce spending in the right way,” said Laicie Heeley, director of defense policy at the Center. “In future years, appropriators have to begin to reshape spending to address 21st century threats and not those of the past.”
New Report Finds Multiple Paths to Nuclear Reductions
“Since the end of the Cold War, the size of the U.S. nuclear stockpile has dropped steadily – from about 22,000 warheads to roughly 5,000 today,” said Reif. “The best kept secret of U.S. nuclear policy is that most of these reductions haven’t been codified in treaties.”
Death of One Deal Makes Room for Another
“White House and congressional leadership from pro-diplomacy Senators has created an opportunity for one of the most important foreign policy initiatives in a decade to succeed: a diplomatic solution addressing Iran’s nuclear program,” said Laicie Heeley, Director of Middle East and Defense Policy at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “The only good option on the table to address Iran’s nuclear program is diplomatic engagement. We are excited to see the Senate siding with the President and the American people on this issue.”
Center Releases In-Depth Study of the Conference Version of the FY2013 NDAA
“While the NDAA covers a broad spectrum of national security issues, the House version raised some serious concern for the future of nuclear weapons and non-proliferation programs,” said John Isaacs, Executive Director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “Fortunately, the conferees watered down or eliminated many of the objectionable nuclear provisions including limitations on the implementation of the New START treaty.”
Strategy, Not Cold War Ideology, Should Guide Conferees on Defense Bill
“The Republican leadership seems stuck in the Cold War, authorizing hundreds of million on nuclear weapons and missile defense programs that military leaders did not request,” said Reif. “Pentagon spending should be driven by strategic need and affordability.”