The procedural vote to proceed on New START passed!
Dec 15, 2010
Today, Senator Harry Reid offered a motion for the Senate to proceed on New START. The motion passed 66-32 but this was, only a preliminary vote and there is still a lot to get done. On the bright side, nine Republicans in the procedural motion voted in favor to proceed.
In addition, final passage of the New START Treaty will require a two-thirds vote of those Senators present and voting. That two-thirds majority was achieved today, although again, on a preliminary vote.
For a full list of how the 111th Congress voted, refer to the chart below!
The nine republicans that voted in favor are highlighted in yellow
The Value of Unlikely Alliances; A Dan Rostenkowski Story
Aug 23, 2010
I recalled an untold story about Dan Rostenkowski that did not appear in his obituaries. It has lessons for why the Senate should agree to the New Start treaty. That story provides a rich example of building unlikely ad hoc alliances. It recognizes the importance of the military to advance peace and arms control efforts.
What reminded me of the Rostenkowski story was the picture in the obituaries of Rostenkowski sitting with Speaker Tip O'Neill. In 1971 O'Neill was beginning to lead an anti-Vietnam War effort. He was the first establishment House Democrat to step forward and lead the effort. O'Neill had agreed to lead a group of Democratic regulars who had previously been war supporters. O'Neill's credibility came from his opposing the war under President Johnson. The group hopefully would include Rostenkowski.
O'Neill wasn't going to ask him to join him. He wanted me to do that. I gulped. I didn't know Rostenkowski and he was no friend of institutional reform. which was my calling card. Nevertheless following the principle that you talk with everybody ,Rostenkowski agreed to give me five minutes.
My presentation was unpersuasive. Then Rostenkowski opened up. Like John Murtha on Iraq 35 years later, he had been talking with enlisted soldiers and officer who were not generals and were the future leadership of our military.. Their overwhelming view was that the Vietnam War was not working militarily and at the same time was harming the US Army as an institution. This galvainzed Rostenkowski's oppositon to the war. He would join O'Neill, and the others. My cohorts and I had to recognize how the war was weakening the strength and morale of our armed forces. That had to be part of our public argument.
Shift to New Start. Our current military stands firmly in support of New Start. Retired military officers can also play a strong support role by articulating the case for the New Start treaty from a military perspective and the harm that comes from the Senate not advising and consenting to New Start. The military here joins with its retired civilian promoters Secretary James Baker and Secretary James Schlessinger.
To those Senators who have so far not stepped up in support of New Start they should have to choose between the responsibility and prudence of our current and retired military officers or the recklessness of opposition to New Start. That is the legacy Dan Rostenkowski worked for. It is very much part of the Baker and Schlessinger DNA. It deserves being listened to.
Obama's Stroke of Pen Protects National Security and Human Rights
Jan 23, 2009
With a stroke of a pen President Obama has protected our national security and human rights. By reversing Bush-Cheney counter-terrorism policies that failed and were disrespected, Obama, in his words, placed the US on a course that demonstrates that "our ideals give us the strength and moral high ground" to protect us and the rights we cherish.
Obama used his executive power to close the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay within a year, end the CIA's secret prisons and require all interrogation to follow non-coercive methods by using the procedures and practices of the Army Field Manual.
Obama acknowledged the importance of the many retired generals and admirals who spoke out in strong support to end the harsh interrogations initiated by the Bush Administration. Obama said their passion and credibility "made an extraordinary impression on me." Standing with President Obama (in the New York Times photograph)were Council for a Livable World leaders, Generals Gard and Johns, who along with other generals and admirals, had worked tirelessly to bring this day about.
The implementation of the Executive Orders will be carried out in a deliberative way with the Attorney General, Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence expected to come up with thoughtful and practical ways to make interrogation work without torture or other forms of coercion. What is reflected in the views of the retired generals and admirals is that the President's actions are the right steps morally, diplomatically, militarily and constituionally.
A story is worth telling. In 2005 I facilitated a strategy session of numerous human rights groups determined to reverse legislatively the Bush pro-torture policies. After prior study and lots of discussion, we concluded that the Army Field Manual provided the single best policy against torture and other forms of coercion. It had been tested over time and followed international law which gave our troops if captured the best protections as well. The human rights advocates knew they needed allies. They began to build relationships with armed service retirees who shared their views. They also know that the retired generals and admirals speaking as armed service leaders had a credibility to influence matters in special ways.What the human rights advocates also learned is that they are not alone in the fight to end torture and coercion in interrogation. That has applicability to other security questions dealing with Iraq, Iran, abolition of nuclear weapons and a whole host of security related issues.
Obama's executive orders move the US from the moral gutter to high ground. Let us hope that we have begun to climb.
January 20, 2009: A Day to Remember
Jan 22, 2009
In the heart of Washington, D.C. at Union Station near Capitol Hill, Council for a Livable World and the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation held their “Celebrate the Vote for Change: 2009 Inauguration Day Breakfast” on Tuesday, to honor now President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, and the many progressive candidates elected to Congress in November with the help of Council supporters. Over 200 supporters and friends of the organizations, along with board members and staff, gathered to celebrate what will be remembered as one of the most momentous days in American history.
Joining the guests were three new members of Congress whom the Council helped elect: Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Representatives Betsy Markey of Colorado’s 4th district and Jim Himes of Connecticut’s 4th district. Each new member spoke briefly and thanked the Council and Council friends for their early campaign support and expertise on national security issues.
McCain and Obama Seek 1st Round Knock-Out
Sep 23, 2008
The first of three presidential debates will occur this Friday, September 26. In a prime time encounter, John McCain and Barack Obama will (hopefully) lay out their ideas about how to best structure and implement U.S. foreign policy over the next four years. These debates will be critical for the candidates, as the race is tightly contested and neither candidate has pulled away in recent polls.