October 17, 1999

Highfalutin Words Enliven Nuke Test Ban Treaty Vote

Senate Democrats knew the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty was in trouble when Jesse Helms, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, described it as a “floccinaucinihilipilification.”

That’s a highfalutin word meaning “worthless” – as, indeed, the treaty is. Before the White House flacks could decipher the insult, they were hoisted on their own petard (look it up).

The accord is meant to prevent further development of nuclear weapons throughout the world. The heads of 44 “nuclear capable” states signed the United Nations agreement in 1996. For some reason, Clinton did not submit the treaty to the Senate until a year later.

India, Pakistan and North Korea, who have tested nuclear weapons within the last year, refused to sign. Among the 15 nations that signed but have not ratified the treaty are Russia, China, and Israel. All have sizeable stockpiles of nukes. Only nuclear-armed Britain and France have ratified.

Wednesday’s ratification effort in the U.S. Senate was defeated 51-48. It was 19 votes short of the two-thirds majority necessary for approval.

President Clinton rushed to the cameras to lambaste the Republicans. He insisted the vote made the world a more dangerous place in which to live.

Majority Leader Trent Lott, heatedly replied, “Baloney.” He pointed out that the treaty signed by Clinton is but a “work in progress.” It remains a proposal that can be reconsidered by the next Congress.

Competent foreign policy advisors assert the treaty has no practical way to monitor violations or to enforce compliance. So say former cabinet ministers Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State; Richard Cheney, Secretary of Defense; and Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Ambassador to the United Nations.

As usual, the president blames Republicans for his stubbornness. There’s another good word for the ability to shift faults onto victims of that fault – chutzpah. Clinton is-is a master of this – a la special prosecutors, witnesses, sacrificial lambs and cute word definitions.

Neither Democrat committee members nor White House operatives wanted to jeopardize the bill by rocking the boat. However, Sen. Byron Dorgan, Dem-N.D., couldn’t stand the strain of bipartisan negotiation. Six weeks ago, he went to the Senate podium and accused Majority Leader Trent Lott of obstructing the treaty.

“I intend to block any routine business until you bring this issue to the floor,” Doran thundered. Minority Leader Tom Daschle backed up the threat.

Lott knew there was not enough votes for passage and suspected the power play was designed to create a campaign issue. Nevertheless, he consented to a short debate – AND an up- or-down vote.

Democrats and White House spinmeisters were chagrined to get what they prayed for. They wanted campaign brownie points, not burial of the treaty.

Overnight, Clinton executed one of his patented flip flops. He insisted consideration of the treaty should be delayed indefinitely so “legitimate concerns” about verification and enforcement could be satisfied. Too little, too late.

Trent -- damned if he did and damned if he didn’t -- damned the torpedoes and steamed full speed ahead.

Defeat of the treaty is a crushing blow to Clinton’s last hope of a meaningful foreign policy accomplishment for his presidential legacy. It is the first time the Senate has rejected an international security agreement since 1920.

The Treaty of Versailles creating the League of Nations was signed by victors of the First World War -- except by the United States. President Woodrow Wilson failed to seek the constitutional “advice and consent” of the Senate which refused to ratify. The defeat devastated Wilson who appeared to die of depression soon after.

The Versailles treaty turned out to be useless in preventing World War II. There never has been a treaty written that prevented a signer from doing what ever is thought to be in its national interest.

Who amongst us today trust North Korea, India and Pakistan to stop perfecting their crude nuclear bombs? Or, for that matter, China and Russia? Or Iraq, Iran and Syria which covet weapons of mass destruction?

Treaties lull wishful thinkers into somnolence while rogues and fanatics prepare to annex their next door neighbors. The world is more dangerous with arms control treaties than without them.

PARTING SHOTS

Native Hawaiians are trying to get the government to classify them as Indians so they can get special privileges. Before you know it, they will want casinos.

* * *

The U.N. proclaims a baby born in Bosnia shortly after midnight Oct. 12 is the world’s six-billionth person. China, 3,000 miles closer to the International Date Line, claims the honor but can not single out one baby from several thousand born at the magic moment.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers