Obama to call for a nuclear-free world

[steelmania75]

PRAGUE (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will call for the elimination of all nuclear weapons across the globe, in remarks on Sunday he hopes will lend credibility to his message in atomic disputes with Iran and North Korea.

Visiting Prague during an eight-day visit to Europe, Obama plans to deliver what his aides have billed as a major speech on weapons proliferation.

Read more here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090404/pl_nm/us_obama_europe

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Sadly, such a thing cannot be guaranteed...

:(

Recommended for President Obama's efforts, though...

[tridim]

5. He dreams big

And I like it!

I have a feeling Obama will follow-through on all his big ideas.

[mudesi]

2. GOBAMA!

[Mithreal]

3. This is the best action of the administration yet. Cheers to the President in his efforts. nt

[Tim01]

4. And we are going to set the example by disarming first.

Or rather we are going to make Iran and North Korea set the example. Or we will make an example of Iran and North Korea. Something like that.

Nuclear weapons free U.S. Uh huh. Sure,:eyes:

[Djinn]

6. Pretty much my reaction when I heard it yesterday

the genie is well and truly out of the bottle, even if he was planning on disarming the US (people really think he CAN do that but couldn't possibly create a decent health service, it takes some real political naivete to swallow that) there is no way other nations are going to give them up.

India? Israel? no friggin way.

Besides why get rid of this type of WMD - you have plenty more, ones you actually use.

[emilyg]

8. I believe in the

Easter Bunny.

[FrenchieCat]

7. I'd never thought I hear a US President saying this......

it is like a dream.

I don't care so much if it happens down to zero...

the point is just a couple of years ago, we were talking "smart nukes"...
now, we are talking "no nukes". Whata change! :thumbsup:

some can take it all for granted....but I sure in the hell won't. :woohoo:

[Djinn]

9. so if a President says something

knowing fine well that he'll never actually disarm the US (even if every single member of Congress was an Obama clone let alone fellow Dem) and has no intention of even attempting it, it's OK as long as he just says it? Really? you're that easy to please

Apart from the depressing concomittant of that thought process, what if Bush had said everything you want to hear but never actually did any of it, would that have constituted enough change for you?

Given you're so fond of retorting to criticism of Obama with "he said it before" how exactly does Obama's calls for a nuke free world gel with his comments to Israel about providing them with an "umbrella"

[inwiththenew]

10. I like it

I think it is a good idea, but I doubt it will ever happen. I don't see Russia and China giving up nukes. If they don't we shouldn't either.

[Djinn]

11. China could destroy the US

by calling in the debts - they'd have no need to nuke you

[bananas]

12. "Obama's Nuclear Speech: Required Reading (From the Harvard Belfer Center)"

Posted in the E/E forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x192432

[cal04]

13. Details of Obama's plan for nuclear-free world

According to the Obama plan, the United States will:
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-38892820090405?sp=true

-- reduce the role of nuclear weapons in its national security strategy and urge others to follow

-- maintain "a safe, secure and effective arsenal" to deter adversaries as long as such arms exist

-- negotiate a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia this year

-- seek to include all nuclear weapons states in arms cuts

-- "immediately and aggressively" pursue U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in an effort to accelerate a global ban on nuclear testing

-- seek a new treaty that verifiably ends the production of fissile materials intended for use in state nuclear weapons

-- seek to strengthen the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, proposing more resources for international inspections and urge "real and immediate consequences" for those caught breaking the rules

-- promote civil nuclear cooperation by urging an international fuel bank available to every nation that renounces nuclear weapons

-- support Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy with rigorous inspections

-- pursue a cost-effective and proven missile defence system "as long as the threat from Iran persists"

-- back a new international effort to secure all vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years

-- host a world summit on nuclear security in the next year.