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| In August 9 remarks
at Fort Meyer, Virginia, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the establishment
of the post of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Clinton
recalled that four former Chairmen, as well as the current Chairman, General
Shelton, have expressed their support for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban
Treaty (CTBT). The President's remarks follow:
"General Bradley said a long time ago that the way to win a nuclear war is to make sure it never starts. I would like to thank the former Chairs of the Joint Chiefs who have endorsed the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to end nuclear testing forever, proposed by President Eisenhower, championed by President Kennedy, signed now by the United States and over 150 other countries -- 41 of them have ratified it. Four of our former Chairs -- General Jones, Admiral Crowe, General Powell, General Shalikashvili -- have issued a statement endorsing the treaty, agreeing with the current Chair, General Shelton, that it is in America's interest.
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"Why? Because we have
already stopped testing; our leading experts say we can maintain a safe
and reliable nuclear deterrent without further tests; and the only
remaining question is, will we join or lose a verifiable treaty that can
prevent other countries from testing nuclear weapons. If we don't ratify
it, by its terms the treaty can't enter into force. And countries all around
the world will feel more pressure to develop and test weapons in ever more
destructive varieties and sizes, threatening the security of everyone on
Earth.
"So, today, once again, as we honor the Joint Chiefs, the individuals and the institutions, I ask the Senator Foreign Relations Committee to hold hearings on the treaty this fall, and the full Senate to vote for ratification as soon as possible. This will strengthen national security not only of the United States, but of people around the world. This will help the new Chairs of the Joint Chiefs in the future not only to prepare for war, but to avoid it." |
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| Produced by the White House Working Group on the Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty.
For more information on the CTBT, log on to www.state.gov/www/global/arms/index.html |
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