Consensus for American Security

Consensus Members Meet with National Security Advisor, Top WH Officials

securityconsensus — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:39:55 +0000

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2010 — Following yesterday’s launch, the Consensus for American Security began its push for ratification of the New START treaty this morning by meeting with top White House officials. Gen. James L. Jones, National Security Advisor to the President, met with Consensus members, including retired flag officers Vice Admiral Lee Gunn, Lt. Gen. Dirk Jameson, Brigadier General John Adams, Major General Paul Eaton and Lt. General Robert Gard.

“This meeting is the first critical step in raising our voices to support a national security strategy that will keep the country safe from 21st century threats. It’s time to commit to actions that will strengthen and modernize our nuclear security, and the first step is Senate passage of the New START treaty,” said Lt. Gen. Jameson after the meeting.

More information, including a complete list of members of the Consensus for American Security, is available at securityconsensus.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

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About the Consensus for American Security: The Consensus for American Security is a non-partisan group of individuals committed to protecting the United States and its allies from nuclear catastrophe. The Consensus’s work is supported through by the Ploughshares Fund, a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing the role of nuclear weapons and fundamentally changing nuclear weapons policy.

Historic Bi-Partisan Coalition of Military and National Security Leaders Calls for Strong Approach to Nuclear Security

securityconsensus — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:32:38 +0000

‘Consensus for American Security’ members Sec. George Shultz, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Gen. Arlen “Dirk” Jameson (U.S. Air Force, RET), Sen. Gary Hart and Adm. William Owens (U.S. Navy, RET) look to New START Treaty as Initial Test of American Policy

Washington, July 19, 2010 – Today, more than 30 senior former military and national security leaders launched the ‘Consensus for American Security’ to support a national security strategy that will keep the country safe from 21st century threats. These threats include the possibility of a nuclear terrorist attack on an American city and the increasing global insecurity created by new, hostile countries acquiring nuclear weapons. Members of the Consensus looked to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) currently before the Senate as any early indicator of how seriously Congress views these challenges, and highlighted the overwhelming support for New START by those who have made a career out of keeping our country safe.

“The Consensus believes the new START Treaty fundamentally represents the U.S. national interest. It is the only option that allows us to invest in the nuclear security priorities necessary to confront the threats of today and tomorrow. Building on the successes of President Reagan, the Treaty allows us to control old weapons while supporting our forces and the development of advanced capabilities. Without this Treaty, we will not be able to move forward with new strategic issues that are vital to protecting America,” said Senator Gary Hart, member of The Consensus.

“For more than 30 years, I oversaw the training, testing, security and readiness of our country’s nuclear arsenal. I saw our nation face evolving security challenges, and what our country needs to prevent a nuclear terrorist catastrophe or our enemies acquiring and using nuclear weapons is a comprehensive nuclear security strategy that responds to today’s threats,” continued Gen. Arlen “Dirk” Jameson (U.S. Air Force, RET). “When the U.S. signed the New START agreement, we advanced further down a common sense path of national security. It’s time for the Senate to ensure that we have all the tools we need to keep America safe and to pass New START.”

The Consensus is made up of a group of influential former military leaders and national security officials from both sides of the political aisle, including former Senators Chuck Hagel and Gary Hart, and senior retired military officials Adm. Lee Gunn, Gen. Jameson, Gen. Don Kerrick, Adm. Owens, among others.

The Consensus was formed to raise awareness of a broad sweep of nuclear security issues, including the value of the New START treaty and other arms control agreements.

“Consensus members, people with real boots-on-the-ground experience in this arena, believe that the New START agreement is the critical first step in moving us on a sustainable path towards nuclear security. In addition to verifiably reducing Russia’s nuclear arsenal, the agreement provides a modern framework to allow us to monitor Russia’s nuclear reductions and keep track of their compliance with the treaty’s mandate,” said Jim Ludes, of the American Security Project.

“New START is important because we need to face the threats of today, rather than keep the outdated weapons of yesterday. A broad and growing non-partisan consensus of military and national security leaders supports New START because they know this treaty is a critical tool for keeping our country safe,” said Lieutenant General Robert Gard, USA (Ret).

In addition to today’s launch call featuring Sen. Chuck Hagel, Sen. Gary Hart, Lt. General Jameson, and Adm. William Owens, a series of paid advertisements is starting today to further raise awareness, as well. More information, including a complete list of members of the Consensus for American Security, is available at securityconsensus.org, on Facebook and Twitter.

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About the Consensus for American Security: The Consensus for American Security is a non-partisan group of individuals committed to protecting the United States and its allies from nuclear catastrophe. The Consensus’s work is supported through by the Ploughshares Fund, a non-partisan, 501©(3) organization dedicated to reducing the role of nuclear weapons and fundamentally changing nuclear weapons policy.

Graham Allison

securityconsensus — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:37:23 +0000

Graham Allison is Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. As “Founding Dean” of the modern Kennedy School, under his leadership, from 1977 to 1989, a small, undefined program grew twenty-fold to become a major professional school of public policy and government. Dr. Allison has served as Special Advisor to the Secretary of Defense under President Reagan. He has the sole distinction of having twice been awarded the Department of Defense’s highest civilian award, the Distinguished Public Service Medal, first by Secretary Cap Weinberger and second by Secretary Bill Perry. He served as a member of the Defense Policy Board for Secretaries Weinberger, Carlucci, Cheney, Aspin, Perry and Cohen. Dr. Allison’s first book, Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (1971), was released in an updated and revised second edition (1999) and ranks among the bestsellers in 20th century political science with more than 400,000 copies in print. His latest book, Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe, is now in its third printing and was selected by the New York Times as one of the “100 most notable books of 2004.”

Bipartisan Coalition of Military and National Security Leaders Calls on Senate to Pass the New START Treaty

securityconsensus — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:24:00 +0000

The Consensus for American Security stands for 21st century solutions to assure American and global nuclear security, starting with passage of the New START Treaty as a critical first-step.

Teleconference THIS MONDAY at 11:30 a.m. EST

WHO: The Consensus for American Security, including panelists:

Sen. Chuck Hagel, Former U.S. Senator from Nebraska
Sen. Gary Hart, Former U.S. Senator from Colorado
Lt. General Arlen “Dirk” Jameson, former Vice CINCSTRATCOM, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Adm. William Owens, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Jim Ludes, Executive Director, American Security Project

WHAT: Teleconference discussion about the urgent challenges for American nuclear security agenda and the New START Treaty with leading members of The Consensus for American Security. Press Q & A immediately following remarks.

WHEN: Monday, July 19, 2010
11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. EST

WHERE: Dial-In: 888-218-8172
Call Title: Consensus for American Security: New START, New Opportunities for a Secure America (Conference ID: 3445208)

Note: Please call in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call.

MORE: The Consensus for American Security is a new initiative of the American Security Project that brings together a broad, bipartisan consensus of former military and national security leaders who know that American security depends on sound and smart nuclear security policies. The New START Treaty is a critical and essential first-step. The Consensus demonstrates bipartisan support for efforts to SECURE the world’s current nuclear stockpiles, PREVENT terrorists from getting access to nuclear technologies, and REDUCE the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide.

The July 19th conference call will be the first in a series of efforts to raise awareness about these issues and to rebuild an enduring bipartisan consensus in the United States about our nation’s security.

Members include former Secretary of State George Shultz, Chief Negotiator of the first START agreement Ambassador Richard Burt, Lieutenant General John Castellaw USMC (Ret), Lieutenant General Robert Gard USA (Ret), Vice Admiral Lee Gunn USN (Ret), Lieutenant General Donald Kerrick USA (Ret), Rear Admiral Rose Levitre USN (Ret), and several dozen other prominent Americans.

Obama plan outlines reductions in U.S. nuclear arsenal

securityconsensus — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:05:02 +0000

The Obama administration’s 20-year plan for the U.S. nuclear arsenal would reduce the number of deployed and stored warheads from 5,000 to a range of 3,000 to 3,500 and significantly increase spending on the complex that maintains them, according to newly disclosed documents.

ASP’s James Ludes on the Consensus for American Security

securityconsensus — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:53:43 +0000

American Security Project Executive Director James Ludes introduces the Consensus for American Security and ASP’s nuclear security initiative.

New arms treaty will not  hurt our nuclear deterrence

securityconsensus — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:03:41 +0000

The presidents of the United States and of Russia have signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, which authorizes significant reductions of the nuclear weapons and delivery systems of both countries.

The New START treaty deserves to be ratified

securityconsensus — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:02:37 +0000

President Obama signed a nuclear arms control agreement — the New START treaty — with Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Prague in April to much fanfare. Senate hearings on the treaty are taking place.

Lugar Attacks Romney on Nuclear Treaty

securityconsensus — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:55:11 +0000

Senator Richard G. Lugar, one of the Republican Party’s senior voices on foreign affairs, fired back Thursday at Mitt Romney over his opposition to the new nuclear treaty with Russia, accusing Mr. Romney of “hyperbolic” rhetoric that is divorced from the reality of arms control.

New START is no mistake

securityconsensus — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:53:52 +0000

Mitt Romney’s criticism of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) ["Obama's worst foreign mistake," op-ed, July 6] raises several concerns about the agreement and its impact.