...I couldn't believe my ears when I heard Colin Powell quoted as saying that North Korea had "thumbed its nose at the international community" by backing outof the non- proliferation treaty. Like the international community hasn't been aware of our behavior vis a vis treaties?
Anti-Ballistic Missile (1972): The administration says the ABM Treaty between the United States and Soviet Union should be scrapped because it bars development of national missile defenses.
START II (1993): The U.S.-Russian accord requires each side to reduce strategic nuclear weapons from 6,000 to a range of 3,000-3,500 by 2007. The Senate has ratified the treaty, but the Russian Duma has conditioned ratification on U.S. Senate approval of changes in START II and the ABM Treaty. President Bush is not seeking to ratify those changes. He wants to end, not amend, the ABM Treaty. He has launched new talks with Russia on reducing nuclear arsenals.
Comprehensive Test Ban (1996): The treaty would ban all nuclear test explosions, but the administration says it would limit U.S. research. White House officials have held up submission of the treaty to the Senate, which refused to ratify it in 1999.
Kyoto Protocol (1997): Aimed at combating global warming, it is backed by 178 nations. Bush has rejected it on grounds that it would harm the U.S. economy and exempt developing nations. Bush has promised to offer alternatives for dealing with the problem.
Biological weapons (1995): The administration abandoned a United Nations draft accord that sets out enforcement mechanisms for the treaty, which would limit germ warfare. U.S. negotiators say the approach threatens industry and national security.
Land Mine Ban (1997): The administration is expected to concur with the Clinton administration's rejection of the treaty, which calls for the destruction of anti-personnel land mines.
International Criminal Court (1997): The treaty would create the first permanent international tribunal to prosecute war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. The administration says the accord could infringe on U.S. sovereignty and put U.S. troops at risk. Bush has no plans to seek Senate ratification.
Small Arms Control (2001): The administration agreed last Saturday to a U.N. pact to stem the illegal flow of small arms. However, U.S. officials blocked two key provisions: regulation of civilian ownership of military weapons and restrictions on trade to rebel movements.
