Sessions: No to Unilateral Nuclear Disarmament

Preparations already are underway between the Obama Administration and Russian government for the next round of nuclear weapons reductions now that the New Start agreement has entered force. However, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), said he’s concerned that the Administration intends to move forward unilaterally with more cuts to the detriment of the nation’s security. “The United States Senate did not consent to a goal of disarmament” in supporting New START ratification, said Sessions during last week’s hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces panel. He added, “The United States Senate has also not agreed to or been consulted on unilateral nuclear reductions.” James Miller, principle deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, said in response the Administration intends to conduct a review to identify options for further reductions. But he assured that the Administration intends to move forward together with Russia in further cuts and address Russia’s far larger stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons. (For more from Miller’s May 4 testimony, see Off to a Good New START.) (Miller prepared remarks)