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Obama Seeks to Abolish World's Nukes

By JENNIFER LOVEN
,
AP
posted: 4 HOURS 35 MINUTES AGO
comments: 4911
filed under: The Obama Presidency, World News
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PRAGUE (April 5) - Declaring the future of mankind at stake, President Barack Obama on Sunday said all nations must strive to rid the world of nuclear arms and that the U.S. had a "moral responsibility" to lead because no other country has used one.
A North Korean rocket launch upstaged Obama's idealistic call to action, delivered in the capital of the Czech Republic, a former satellite of the Soviet Union. But Obama dismissed those who say the spread of nuclear weapons, "the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War," cannot be checked.
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"This goal will not be reached quickly — perhaps not in my lifetime," he told a cheering crowd of more than 20,000 in the historic square outside the Prague Castle gates. We "must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change. We have to insist, 'Yes, we can.'"
Few experts think it's possible to completely eradicate nuclear weapons, and many say it wouldn't be a good idea even if it could be done. Even backward nations such as North Korea have shown they can develop bombs, given enough time.
But a program to drastically cut the world atomic arsenal carries support from scientists and lions of the foreign policy world. Obama embraced that step as his first goal and chose as the venue for his address a nation that peacefully threw off communism and helped topple the Soviet Union, despite its nuclear power.
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But he said his own country, with its huge arsenal and its history using two atomic bombs against Japan in 1945, had to lead the world. He said the U.S. has a "moral responsibility" to start taking steps now.
"To reduce our warheads and stockpiles, we will negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the Russians this year," he promised.
The nuclear-free cause is more potent in Europe than in the United States, where even Democratic politicians such as Obama must avoid being labeled as soft or naive if they endorse it. Still, Obama said he would resubmit a proposed Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to the Senate for ratification. The pact was signed by President Bill Clinton but rejected by the Senate in 1999.
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While espousing long-term goals, Obama took care to promise that America would not lower its defenses while others are pursuing a nuclear threat. He warned both North Korea, which has tested a nuclear weapon, and Iran, which the West says is developing one, that the world was against them.
Obama gave his most unequivocal pledge yet to proceed with building a missile defense system in Europe, so long as Iran pursues nuclear weapons, a charge it denies. That shield is to be based in the Czech Republic and Poland. Those countries are on Russia's doorstep, and the missile shield has contributed to a significant decline in U.S.-Russia relations.
In the interest of resetting ties with Moscow, Obama previously had appeared to soft-pedal his support for the Bush-era shield proposal. But he adopted a different tone in Prague.
"As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven," Obama said, earning cheers from the crowd.
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Hours before the address, an aide awoke Obama in his hotel room to tell him that North Korea had make good on its pledge to launch a long-range rocket. By lunchtime, the president had addressed it publicly nearly half a dozen times.
"Rules must be binding," he said. "Violations must be punished. Words must mean something."
"Now is the time for a strong international response," he said.
After the speech and a round of private meetings with foreign leaders, Obama arrived in Turkey, the final stop of his trip.
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On the broader anti-nuclear issue, more than 140 nations have ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. But 44 states that possess nuclear technology need to both sign and ratify it before it can take effect and only 35 have do so. The United States is among the holdouts, along with China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, North Korea, and Pakistan.
Ratification was one of several "concrete steps" Obama outlined as necessary to move toward a nuclear-free world. He also called for reducing the role of nuclear weapons in American national security strategy and seeking a new treaty to end the production of fissile materials used in nuclear weapons.
Obama said the U.S. will seek to strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation treaty by providing more resources and authority for international inspections and mandating "real and immediate consequences" for countries that violate the treaty.
He offered few details of how he would accomplish his larger goal and acknowledged that "in a strange turn of history, the threat of global nuclear war has gone down, but the risk of a nuclear attack has gone up."
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-04-05 06:13:18
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(4911)
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Susanctuary78

11:28 PMApr 06 2009

RobertaLynnTAC 11:25 PMApr 06 2009 Barry's so full of shyt, he needs a colon cleanse!....................That would REALLY leave an empty suit!

AVG RATING:
(0)

PANCHO 627

11:28 PMApr 06 2009

well Obummer almighty is really making an ars of ALL of us Americans for all the world to see. Sure, he can stop all the nukes, like he's stopping us all by trying to take our God given rights. For the first time Michelle is PROUD to be an American, can't say much for myself. If you want to stand up for your rights go to taxdayteaparty.com and join your community on April 15th.

AVG RATING:
(0)

CindyBhrt

11:28 PMApr 06 2009

AMargin958 11:25 PMApr 06 2009 Forty-six percent of 143,000 people polled rate Obama's performance as "POOR". I would love to know what percentage of those people voted for him. There is an AOL poll question with some real substance, AOL pollsters! We want to know how many people may (in six short months) now realize their error in judgement and who can be counted upon to vote for experience instead of eloquence in 2012............The only ones that put any faith in AOL polls are foolish Republicans. The rest of us know how far from reality they are. After all AOL showed McCain winning all but 2 states on Nov 4th last year!

AVG RATING:
(0)

JimLatp

11:27 PMApr 06 2009

RobertaLynnTAC 11:25 PMApr 06 2009 Barry's so full of shyt,----It's ok you can "say" shit.

AVG RATING:
(1)

PUNNSTER

11:27 PMApr 06 2009

Obama got confused by Venezuelan estupido presidente cerveza and thinks he can rewrite our laws so he can rule indefinitely.

AVG RATING:
(0)

WashyWizard84

11:27 PMApr 06 2009

CINDY Yes I know--babies need their toys and juice boxes. How are you tonight by the way? Did you pay a visit to the Lord for Pal m Sunday? I did of course.

AVG RATING:
(1)

Jkgallaher5543

11:27 PMApr 06 2009

Racists, come out from under your rocks. You will soon be exposed, anyway. Your time is nearing its end. This country needs intelligent people to prevail during our difficult current (and future) times.

AVG RATING:
(1)

Bls2058

11:26 PMApr 06 2009

This guy is an idiot! Is he trying to get the U.S. wiped off the map. We'll get rid of our nukes first? What a total stupid idiot.

AVG RATING:
(5)

DonnaMamadee

11:26 PMApr 06 2009

TERRORIST LOVERS !!!! STOP REMOVING MY POST. I HAVE A RIGHT TO MY OPINION, ONLY AN ANTI CHRIST WOULD SUBJECT ALL THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA TO TOTAL HELPLESSNESS, BY TAKING AWAY OUR ONLY DEFENSE.

AVG RATING:
(4)

Csoxwn

11:26 PMApr 06 2009

JIMLATP. Thanks for the compliment--and that's graham to you. Sincerely, cracker

AVG RATING:
(2)

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