LIEBERMAN STATEMENT ON START TREATY, NUCLEAR POSTURE REVIEW

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (ID-CT) issued the following statement today on the release of the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and the signing in Prague of the new Strategic Arms Reduction (START) Treaty:

“This week has witnessed two developments with potentially far-reaching consequences for America's national security. I look forward to reviewing carefully the Nuclear Posture Review and the new START Treaty, and discussing these documents with officials in the Obama Administration in the weeks ahead.

“I have always supported the longstanding, bipartisan effort to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world.  I believe, however, that any reductions in our nuclear stockpile must be accompanied by an appropriate modernization plan to bring our aging nuclear weapons complex, our warheads, and our delivery systems up to 21st century standards. My vote on the START Treaty will thus depend in large measure on whether I am convinced the Administration has put forward an appropriate and adequately-funded plan to sustain and modernize the smaller nuclear stockpile it envisions.

“I also remain deeply concerned that -- regardless of the merits of the NPR and START on paper -- we are losing the real world fight to prevent rogue regimes like Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. If Iran continues on its current trajectory and crosses the nuclear threshold, it will inflict irreparable harm on the global nonproliferation regime.”

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