Gov. Romney: Birch Society or James Schlesinger
Jul 07, 2010

Former Defense Secretary Jim Schlesinger and John Birch Society Agree:
New START Follows a Long Line of Arms Treaties from Reagan to Obama

Schlesinger Endorses Ratification; Birch Society Opposes

On Which Side of the Conservative Divide Does Gov. Romney Stand?

The ultra-right wing John Birch Society recently opposed the New START nuclear reductions treaty signed by the United States and Russia.

That group at least has been consistent; it has opposed all nuclear arms treaties between the United States and the Soviet Union and its successor state, Russia. These treaties, according to that group, date back to 1961 when John F. Kennedy was President and continued through the Nixon, Reagan and Bush I and II administrations.

In its June 30 statement, the Birch Society stated:

The New START Treaty is the latest installment in a long series of disarmament treaties between the United States and Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) that began in 1961.

That period would, of course, cover President Reagan’s Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement and President George W. Bush’s Treaty of Moscow.