Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Ratification is Vital
by David Krieger and Jane Olson*, November 1999

After two years of being bottled up in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), an issue of vital importance to the United States and the world, suddenly faces a vote for ratification in the Senate on October 12. The timing gives little opportunity for a public debate and seems suspiciously maneuvered by partisan politics to keep the American people from understanding the enormous implications of a potential defeat of the treaty.

Defeat would open the door to the proliferation of nuclear weapons, risk a return to dangerous testing practices; and seriously undermine US credibility in the international community. Passage requires a two-thirds Senate vote, seemingly impossible now unless the American people immediately and overwhelmingly express strong support.

A brief background illustrates US leadership and self-interest in the CTBT. In 1963 president Kennedy made a major breakthrough in negotiating the Partial Test Ban Treaty that eventually ended atmospheric testing and resultant fallout now known to have caused major health and environmental damage. While testing continued underground, justified as necessary to improve weapons systems and build arsenals, parties to the Partial Test Ban Treaty promised to work towards ending all testing.

After 33 years and with US leadership, the CTBT finally achieved that goal in the 1996. The US was the first country to sign the treaty, a proud moment.

In releasing the treaty for a Senate vote with no time for public debate, the Republican majority seems to be putting partisan politics ahead of national security. Whether the aim is to embarrass the Clinton Administration or to hold open the possibility of nuclear weapons testing as part of a ballistic missile defense system, this is a dangerous, high-stakes gamble.

In fact, the US has more to gain and less to lose from ratification than any other country. We have already conducted more than 1,000 nuclear weapons tests Because of advanced technologies, we can test systems by methods that do not require actual nuclear explosions. And it clearly is in everyone’s self-interest to contain proliferation and to stop all current nuclear nations from resuming testing.

US failure to ratify could be seen as betrayal by nations agreeing to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which went into effect in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995. At the time of the indefinite extension of the NPT, the nuclear weapons states promised to achieve the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. If the US does not fulfill that promise, party nations could conclude that they need not be bound by the NPT.

To enter into force, the CTBT requires ratification of all 44 countries with nuclear capacity. Of those 44 countries, only India and Pakistan, who recently terrified the world by testing and proving their nuclear might, and North Korea have not signed the treaty.

Twenty-four of these 44 countries have already ratified the treaty. American leadership is essential to complete the ratification process to allow the treaty to enter into force.

With US leadership through ratification of the CTBT, India and Pakistan might be brought into the nuclear treaty regime. Without US support, future testing by these countries and others is almost assured.

Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says that if the treaty is ratified, "the American people will be left with no defensive or offensive deterrent. It’s not going to happen on my watch!"

In fact, the security of the American people will be immeasurably increased by this universal prohibition on nuclear testing. The American people must reject this Cold Warrior rhetoric and outrageously false characterization of the strength of this nation and demand ratification of the CTBT.

Then we should consider Sen. Helms’ use of the term, "offensive deterrent," and ask ourselves whether anyone feel safe under his "watch."

* David Krieger is President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Jane Olson is Co-Chair of the Human Rights Watch California Committee.