Obama Calls for World Without Nuclear Weapons

[masuki bance]

About time this was addressed.

PRAGUE, April 5 -- In a speech grimly punctuated by current events, President Obama Sunday called for a world without nuclear weapons shortly after North Korea defied global warnings to fire a long-range rocket.

Speaking in front of the Prague Castle just hours after the North Korean launch, Obama vowed to immediately seek U.S. ratification of a ban on nuclear testing, convene a summit in Washington to stop the spread of nuclear material within four years and create a nuclear fuel bank to allow peaceful development of nuclear power.

"I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons," Obama said to a crowd of about 20,000 packed into the historic square in the Czech Republic's capital city. "This goal will not be reached quickly -- perhaps not in my lifetime. It will take patience and persistence. But now we, too, must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change."

The president denounced North Korea's launch of a three-stage Taepodong-2 missile, which flew over Japan before apparently falling into the Pacific Ocean, as a provocative act in defiance of the United Nations.

North Korea has called the launch part of a "peaceful" research project, but the United States, Japan and other allies see it as a threat. The missile has the range to reach Hawaii and Alaska.

Obama said Sunday North Korea risks further isolation by pursuing nuclear weapons and the missiles to carry them.

"Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something," he said to loud applause. "The world must stand together to stop the spread of these weapons."

White House officials said it was unclear whether the rocket launch was intended to coincide with the president's speech. But intentional or not, it served as a reminder of the potential dangers of nuclear weapons and the difficulty in restraining nations from developing them. ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/05/AR2009040500021.html

[grantcart]

1. The brilliance of this move is outstanding.

He has completely wiped out any residual anti American feeling in Europe and outflanked Europe's leaders who now have to put on their running shoes to catch up with him.

He has outflanked the militaristic faction in Iran and completely undermined their effort to get an atom bomb.

He has significantly reduced tensions with Russia because implicit in all of this is that we don't need a missle shield in Europe.

The Chinese will be the most delighted because they will see the numbers of missles in Russia and the United States reduced, both threats to them, and it will help build consensus to stopping North Korea.

Many other countries, like Japan, will be very enthusiastic about it.

By tackling this to controlling all nuclear material within 4 years he will make the world a great deal safer and put Jack Bower out of a job.

[masuki bance]

2. Iran will have no reason for the bomb.

[Aloha Spirit]

8. Taking away the NMD issue should make Europe more stable too.

Especially if they can get the treaty of lisbon.

[FrenchieCat]

3. If only we could have actually seen this speech of which you speak of.....

that would be even greater still! :(

[masuki bance]

4. Did you catch it on CSPAN? It was awesome.

[Wwagsthedog]

5. How about calling for a world without war?

Then leading by example

[masuki bance]

6. He's ending the war in Iraq.

[Iterate]

7. Acting fast, I hope,

and not simply pining for a solution in the next generation. Maybe his modest proposal is just caution and an attempt to get the ball rolling without getting too far ahead of everyone else, but now is the time for a complete international nuclear disarmament. He's covered politically on the right by some old Reagan administration officials, and this action could gain reciprocal cooperation from other counties on other issues. It saves money, talent, energy; it reduces environmental damage and puts defiant nations or parties out on a political limb. Now, now, now.

[masuki bance]

9. Kicking for huge story that is left to wither.