Following a bipartisan vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (14-4) two weeks ago, the New START treaty moves toward a vote by the full Senate.  However, ratification of New START appears caught in partisan gridlock in the Senate.  In a recent op-ed in [2]Defense News [2] Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association [3] - a Ploughshares grantee - outlined why ratification should happen now.  

Kimball notes that since the expiration of START I in December 2009, "the U.S. has been losing ground in understanding Russian strategic forces." Once ratified, New START would bolster U.S. national security by allowing the U.S. to resume inspections of Russia's nuclear forces and continue seeking reductions in Russia's massive nuclear stockpile.

New START has received broad bipartisan support from former and current national security experts and the military establishment.  It should come before a full Senate vote this fall. To get this critical treaty ratified quickly, Kimball argues:

"Senate Republicans and Democrats need to put aside party politics and re-establish the inspections for the U.S. and Russia to "trust, but verify," and to reduce Russia's still enormous nuclear stockpile. U.S. national security is clearly stronger with New START than without it. It is time for the Senate to act."

For more expert commentary on New START by Kimball please see  "250 Days and Counting: Close the Verification Gap" [4]