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Council: Front and Center: October 25, 2020
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is the Council's affiliated 501(c)(3) research organization.
NEW START SAFE FROM WITHDRAWAL — FOR NOW
Tuesday, October 20, marked a comforting milestone for the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). The agreement has a three-month window before a withdrawal is final, so even if the Trump administration were to pull out now, a potential Biden administration could reverse the decision and move to extend the agreement.
The Trump administration, however, is still trying to conclude a new agreement with the Russians. Moscow has offered a one-year extension of New START and freeze on nuclear warheads, but as Senior Policy Director Alexandra Bell explained on PRI's The World, the devil of that freeze would be in the details and time is running out. The Trump administration leaving this to the last minute is reckless, as it is the last treaty restricting the world's two biggest nuclear arsenals. As Bell says, "It's not a gambling chip, it's a life preserver." Read more in The Guardian, Financial Times (paywall) or National Journal (paywall).
UNITED STATES INCREASES IRAN SANCTIONS BUT HOPE FOR RETURN TO NUCLEAR DEAL REMAINS
The United States claimed in September a successful snapback of all UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Iran, while the vast majority of the international community have accepted that six UNSC resolutions targeting Iran, including the arms embargo, expired on October 18.
In a last-ditch effort to further isolate Iran, the Trump administration sanctioned Iran's financial sector and blacklisted 18 major Iranian banks. Then, to prove they will unilaterally impose the sanctions they claim to have lapsed, they sanctioned individuals from China and Hong Kong for supporting Iran's shipping lines one day after the arms embargo expired. On October 23, the United States sanctioned five entities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's cyber operations unit for a plot to influence the election after it sent intimidating emails to voters made to look like they came from the white nationalist group the Proud Boys.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to accumulate low-enriched uranium for its stockpile, although it remains nowhere near the levels it reached prior to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear deal.
As the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign continues to be a maximum failure, former Vice President Biden has made it clear that if elected, he would seek to repair or replace the nuclear deal.
COUNCIL UPDATES FAMOUS DAISY GIRL AD
In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson released a striking ad warning about the dangers of nuclear war and the stakes of the election. The Council has released a new video to update that ad for these times. You can watch it on YouTube or watch and share it on Twitter or Facebook. As a reminder, the Council broke precedent this year to make our first presidential endorsement ever in support of former Vice President Joe Biden. Learn more about our history together and his views on 10 pressing nuclear weapons issues. You can also donate to his campaign through us to show how much you care about our issues.
YOUR CHANGE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
We know times are hard for many people right now, but if you are able, please consider using the Council's new fundraising feature that allows you to donate to us your spare change from purchases made with your credit or debit card. You can set a monthly limit for the amount of change you'd like to donate so you never exceed your comfort level. You can also make a one-time donation or set up a monthly donation. Your generosity empowers us to continue our work of vetting and supporting Congressional candidates and advocating progressive national security policies on Capitol Hill.
The West Wing Shows How Outdated U.S. Nuclear Policy Really Is, writes Communications Director Anna Schumann
ENDORSEES WHO NEED YOUR HELP MOST TODAY
With just 9 days to go before the election, we are down to the wire. Not every one of our more than 50 endorsed candidates needs financial support equally. If you are able to donate, please donate to some or all of these candidates:
Nancy Goroff, Dan Feehan, Josh Hicks, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Cameron Webb and Rep. Anthony Brindisi in the House; and Barbara Bollier, Theresa Greenfield and Steve Bullock in the Senate. You can use this form to donate to one or more of these candidates. A list of all of our endorsed candidates is below.
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