IP: What's New for Oct 08, 1999

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:52:39 -0400 (EDT)
> To: farber () central cis upenn edu
> From: "What's New" <whatsnew () aps org>
> Subject: What's New for Oct 08, 1999
>
> WHAT'S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 8 Oct 99   Washington, DC
>
> 1. CTBT I: PHYSICS NOBELISTS LEAD THE PUSH FOR THE TEST BAN.  A
> letter signed by 32 physics Nobel laureates calling ratification
> of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty "imperative," was delivered
> to every member of the Senate on Tuesday.  The letter, organized
> by APS President Jerome Friedman, called the treaty "central to
> future efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons."  The
> Nobelists had been sitting on the letter for a year, waiting for
> some sign of activity in the Senate.  On Wednesday, eight of them
> were present at the White House to join President Clinton and the
> Joint Chiefs of Staff in urging ratification.  Charles Townes
> spoke eloquently for the physicists.  Nevertheless, the 67 Senate
> votes needed to ratify simply are not there.
>
> 2. CTBT II: POLITICS PUSHES THE SENATE TOWARD THE BRINK. Debate
> on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty began today.  If the Senate
> votes next Tuesday on ratification, as scheduled, the treaty will
> almost certainly be rejected, perhaps ending any hope of limiting
> the spread of nuclear weapons.  It will be rejected, not because
> of flaws in the treaty, but because both parties are seeking
> political advantage.  Republicans are determined that credit for
> the treaty not go to President Clinton; Democrats see a powerful
> campaign issue if Republicans kill the treaty.  Only two days are
> allocated to debate what is arguably the most important treaty in
> history, compared to the 25 days spent debating impeachment.
> Surely "the world's greatest deliberative body" can do better.
> In this afternoon's debate, John Warner (R-VA), Chair of Armed
> Services, and Carl Levin (D-MI), Ranking Member, are calling for
> a delay in the vote to avoid certain defeat.
>
> 3. CTBT III: AMERICA'S ALLIES URGE RATIFICATION.  Today's New
> York Times ran a remarkable op-ed signed by Jacques Chirac, Tony
> Blair and Gerhard Schroder.  The final paragraph says it all:
> "The United States and its allies have worked side by side for a
> Comprehensive Test Ban since the days of President Eisenhower.
> This goal is now within our grasp.  Our security is involved, as
> well as America's.  For the security of the world we will leave
> to our children, we urge the United States to ratify the treaty."
>
> 4. CTBT IV: SEISMOLOGISTS SAY COMPLIANCE CAN BE MONITORED.  A
> statement released Wednesday by the American Geophysical Union
> and the Seismological Society of America expressed confidence
> that the combined worldwide monitoring resources provided for
> under the treaty, including 170 seismic stations, will meet the
> treaty's verification goals. A CIA report leaked over the weekend
> expressed doubt that the CIA could detect violations, which is
> almost certainly true--the CIA seems to have trouble detecting a
> lot of things. The treaty, however, establishes an International
> Monitoring System.  As the President pointed out, the world will
> detect far more tests with the treaty than without it.
>
> THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY (Note: Opinions are the author's
> and are not necessarily shared by the APS, but they should be.)