Share/Bookmark

Um, this is kind of important. It's also very under-reported and under-appreciated. In fact, other than Rachel Maddow, I can't remember a single person at any cable news outlet that pays much attention to President Obama's relentless efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Remember this? Anyone? Bueller?

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

President Obama, 2009:

As a nuclear power as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act. We cannot succeed in this endeavor alone, but we can lead it. We can start it. So today I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. [applause] I'm not naive. This goal will not be reached quickly. Perhaps not in my lifetime. It will take patience and persistence. But now we, too, must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change. We have to insist, yes we can."

Now the president is renewing that push for a nuclear treaty at the United Nations. Per The Hill, progress on a treaty has been stalled due to Pakistan's opposition:

Administration officials and arms control activists believe they now have a new window for action. They point to increased cooperation on the UN Security Council and the beginning of John Kerry’s tenure as secretary of State as reasons for optimism. [...]

[Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association] said progress on Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT) would depend on cooperation from Pakistan, which harbors fears of archrival India having more access to fissile material. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council might hold side talks with India and Pakistan in April to try and move the treaty forward, he said. [...]

Kerry is seen as a potential facilitator in those talks because of his long-standing relationship with Pakistan. [...]

Kimball said that if Pakistan won't agree to let the treaty talks proceed, another option would be for other nuclear powers to jointly declare that they will collectively observe a moratorium on fissile material production. The United States, Russia, France and Great Britain have already acknowledged they've stopped producing fissile material, and China is believed to have ended it as well.

Maybe it's finally time to get this news around, whaddya think?

Share/Bookmark