Nuclear Policy and the Presidential Election

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During the 2004 presidential contest between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry, almost the sole issue upon which the two candidates agreed was that the spread of nuclear weapons and the risk that terrorists would steal or use nuclear technology were among the greatest threats to America’s security. This time around, expect more of the same. Democratic Senator Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain have already taken positions on how best to block the bomb’s further spread. Senator McCain has spoken to the issue of reducing nuclear stockpiles and Senator Obama has endorsed a series of nuclear threat reduction proposals. Each contender has also made statements about the role nuclear power should play in reducing carbon emissions and providing energy security for the United States.

To be sure, their views are still works in progress and likely to evolve as the presidential race continues. By late in the campaign season, these nuclear issues may well become points of contention. Four crucial questions will shape the debate.

First, is the key to reducing the further spread of nuclear weapons (and the threat of nuclear terrorism and theft) committing ourselves to the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons and reaching more agreements about the control and reduction of these arsenals?

Second, after Iran’s recent behavior, should the United States continue to act as though all states have a per se right to make nuclear fuel and thus come within days of possessing a bomb?

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Henry Sokolski, "Nuclear Policy and the Presidential Election," The New Atlantis, Number 21, Summer 2008, pp. 3-14.
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