October 15, 1999

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: GARY SCHMITT

SUBJECT: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

I want to draw your attention to the following Weekly Standard editorial, written by Project directors William Kristol and Robert Kagan. Kristol and Kagan praise the Senate’s statesmanship in rejecting the CTBT and contrast it with President Clinton’s exercise in low politics.

In the coming days and weeks, it is important that conservatives continue to explain why they voted against CTBT’s ratification, and that they not back away from Wednesday’s vote by suggesting some new and improved test ban can be negotiated in the future. Test bans are no substitute for serious non-proliferation policies or military strength. Conciliatory statements about test bans by nervous senators will only reinforce the view that the vote against the CTBT was done for less than substantive reasons. As we argued in a previous memo, the Senate’s rejection of the treaty is all for the good: heading “into the new century, it would send a refreshingly sound strategic message to the nation and our allies in the world....American security should rest on American principles backed by American power, and not the tired promises of yet another arms control measure.”