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To: craig crawford who wrote (133002)	10/17/2001 8:03:16 PM
From: craig crawford	Respond to of 164684

Bush Favors Unilateral Nuclear Cuts newsmax.com NewsMax.com Tuesday, May 23, 2000 U.S. Agrees to U.N. Nuclear Weapons Ban In a startling proposal of unilateral disarmament, George W. Bush today said he would slash America's nuclear arsenal to its "lowest possible number" – regardless of whether Russia did the same. Bush, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said he wanted "to demonstrate to Russia that we are no longer enemies." He gave no details about the extent of nuclear cuts. "I will pursue the lowest possible number consistent with our national security. It should be possible to reduce the number of American nuclear weapons significantly further than what has already been agreed to under START II without compromising our security in any way,'' he said in Washington. President Clinton and former Russian President Boris Yeltsin agreed in 1997 that a START III accord would cut their nuclear arsenals to between 2,000 and 2,500 warheads. Moscow now suggests further cuts, perhaps to 1,500. This subject is likely to be reviewed at Clinton's summit June 4-5 with new Russia President Vladimir Putin. "We should not keep weapons that our military planners do not need,'' Bush said. "These unneeded weapons are the expensive relics of dead conflicts. They do nothing to make us more secure.'' Asked if he would make the cuts even if Putin refused, the Texas governor said, "Of course.'' He said the Russians would probably go along. "But if they don't, the level of nuclear readiness is going to meet our needs. I will never put our security at risk, I assure you that,'' he said. Bush's chief foreign affairs adviser, Condoleeza Rice, said America would make its missile reductions in any event. Yet she seemed to link the cuts to an anti-missile system, which could take years to develop. "It's difficult to answer. I think he would hope those would proceed in parallel,'' she said. Bush also said he wanted to remove as many nuclear weapons as possible from high-alert status. In an effort to enhance his image in world affairs, Bush made his announcement alongside former Secretaries of State George Shultz and Henry Kissinger, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft and retired Gen. Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Missile Defense The nuclear cuts are part of a Bush's military plans, which include a missile-defense system, strongly opposed by Russia. "Russia, our allies and the world need to understand our intentions. America's development of missile defenses is a search for security, not a search for advantage,'' he said. Bush said he would share a U.S. missile shield with America's "allies and friends,'' such as Israel and Europe. That could include Moscow, "depending on how Russia behaves as a member of the family of nations.'' Russia's objections to a U.S. missile-defense system date to the Cold War, when President Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative. Bush has said he might cancel the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to support technology that could protect against missile strikes from a growing number of nuclear threats. The Russians have said they will put all arms control treaties on hold if the United States either violates or withdraws from the 1972 pact, which prohibits national missile defenses. Vice President Al Gore favors "a more reasonable approach'' to national security, spokesman Doug Hattaway said today. Gore, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, wants to change, not drop, the ABM treaty to permit a limited anti-missile system. "Bush's agenda is irresponsible and shows that he lacks the depth of experience to keep America safe and secure,'' said Hattaway. Bush urged Clinton not to "hamstring'' the ability of the next president to build a missile defense when he goes to Moscow for the summit with Putin. "I think people will see this as someone who is trying to make political points, and I'm not sure it will be taken very seriously," said presidential spokesman Joe Lockhart. "We're working with the Russians because that makes the most sense, rather than to move and work on a unilateral basis.'' Bush chided Clinton for having seven years "to bring the U.S. force posture into the post-Cold War world.'' "Instead, they remain locked in a Cold War mentality,'' said Bush, appropriating Gore's criticism of him as being "mired in a Cold War mind-set.''