Readers' Comments on Mikhail Gorbachev's article in NYT of 28.12.2010

In “The Senate’s Next Task: Ratifying the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty” (Op-Ed, Dec. 29), Mikhail Gorbachev calls for Senate action on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Two points suggest that this treaty is viable.

First, the New Start treaty was approved by about one-third of the Republican senators, and, if a similar percentage continues to be supportive, then the test ban can advance in the next Senate, despite the reduced Democratic majority.
Second, one of the two main Republican concerns with New Start, the issue of missile defense, is helped by the test ban treaty. By preventing countries from testing smaller warheads and developing multiple-warhead missiles, the treaty makes defenses against such missiles easier.

The other concern, about sufficient financing for the United States nuclear establishment, was addressed in the context of New Start, and senators are therefore not likely to seek even more money when considering the test ban.

Dinshaw Mistry
Cincinnati, Dec. 29, 2010 
 

The writer is an associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati and the author of “Containing Missile Proliferation.”

 What does it say about our state of American politics that Mikhail Gorbachev makes better sense about our American national security than 50 percent or more of our American politicians?

jisteinberg7
Fresno, CA

...." Yet dialogue can work only if the United States abandons the hypocritical position of telling others what they must not do while keeping its own options open."

AMEN, Mr. Gorbachev! Now.....will you please tell that to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton--as well as to all of the bellicose Republicans wanting us to "nuke" Iran! And, while you are at it, will you please explain to Obama the futility of trying to "win" anything in Afghanistan--including installing a stable, drug-free government?

I think you have more than justified your receipt of the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize. We sanctimonious purists are grateful!

Kate Madison
Depoe Bay, Oregon

Well said, Mr. Gorbachev. It remains to be seen whether or not our hawkish, nay, pretentious statesmen are capable of thinking beyond their states, and the standing of these united states in relation to the entire world. With small men such as Kyle, DeMint, Graham, and McCain, statesmanship is a thing of the past.

Jessie
Fairfax, VA

Compelling arguments, Mr. Gorbachev. It's great to see you continuing to push the world forward. Wishing you a safe and happy 2011.

Michael Fortson
San Francisco

I only wish the Russian people, and the Americans, had understood the wisdom of this man. So much could have happened if he had been in office all these years.
 

Mary
NYC

It has been sixty five years since the United States became the only nation to use nuclear weapons as an act of war. As President Obama said recently this give us a unique responsibility to take the lead in guaranteeing that they are never used again. Each passing day brings us a day closer to horrors that will be far greater than those experienced at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A half a dozen cities attacked in a regional conflict (India and Pakistan?) would be a catastrophe to rank with the medieval plague or the holocaust. Is it going to take the world seeing horribly burned children live on television to wake us up? We can act now, or wish that we had.

truth
Woodbridge NJ

It is amazing to me that these issues have receded so far into the background that most Americans don't really care any more. Most of us, in fact, probably have no idea that any new treaties are required and have little information about the New Start treaty recently approved.
…
We are under a new nuclear threat, though it is relatively low on the scale of possibilities, that one day a nuclear device would pass into the hands of terrorists. This is serious business. We should be doing everything possible to guard and dispose of the vast stockpile of nuclear weapons and nuclear materials. The best protection is to keep on getting rid of them as fast as possible. Those who say we are destroying too many of our own while Russia keeps too many of hers are still stuck in the mentality of the cold war. The dream of a nuclear free world can be realized.

Doug Terry
Maryland, USA

Thank you Mikhail Sergeyevich for this wise and insightful commentary. Please add my fervent hope to yours, that the comprehensive nuclear disarmament launched by you and Ronald Reagan comes to fruition in the second term of the Obama presidency.

Satya Das
Edmonton, Canada

First off, I am quite glad to see President Gorbachev still weighing in with insightful and quite useful opinions on international affairs. Too often it is all too easy to listen to our own advisors with their own perspectives, views and yes, agendas. Clearly having an outside objective voice is quite useful to see the bigger picture. The NY Times does us all a service by giving him a place to share his ideas with us.

That all being said, I find myself in agreement with his overall thesis. New Start is a good idea, though there may be fine tunings required. I don't think any of these should be insurmountable for the benefit of us all.

The principles of atomic weapons are well enough known. Both the general workings of fission and fusion reactions for destructive end can be gleaned off a quick internet search. Therefore, is it really necessary for any tests to be done anymore? Between reviewing old test data, computer simulations, and so on, any legitimate inquiry should be satisfied. Therefore, putting the force of law into a comprehensive, worldwide ban is necessary. We will never be able to put the nuclear genie back in the bottle. The best we can do is put his more destructive potential on as short a leash as possible. Banning testing is a small, but necessary step in that direction.

Patrick
Ithaca, NY

Excellent, straight to the point, signaling the next step needed in our foreign policy. As a Cuban born, U S citizen, and I glad to see Mr. Gorbachev speaking out on this important issue. He has been a visionary, a man of the 21st century since he dismantled the Soviet Union.

Gabino
New Jersey

It is time for the USA t get rid of its recalcitrant position on Nuclear restrictions and do what we want other countries to do. At the very least this makes sense. It makes no sense to say "I can carry a gun but your can't". Abandonment and destruction of all and everyone's N weapons makes the best sense of all. There are more than enough N weapons to completely destroy all of civilization many times over if used. Does it take much intelligence to completely get rid of such sense to eliminate such a threat? If our politicians were Statesmen it wouldn't.

Tom Downs
Scottsdale, AZ

I have had the honor to meet and spend time with the author.

He is in a nutshell a unabashed social democrat peace advocate. He believes strongly in the role of government balancing the excesses of free enterprise. He strongly believes in democracy. And he strongly advocates peace.

Don't take my world for it. Read his arc in history. And study his foundation's work and his ownership of the only independent paper left in Russia.

I am not saying the author is a saint. I don't know anything more than I have read and seen. I will always remember him with his daughter in Miami sitting with friends and wearing a Yankee cap. And he can charm better than anyone I have ever met. All without speaking the language. It is all eye contact, warmth and body movements.

What I do know is that without the author, things would have been a lot different today. I lived during the days when we always feared a nuclear attack. History tends to be written by the conquerors. But listen to this author. He is consistent. And while history maybe written a different way. How many leaders of a superpower can you remember that had the ethics and morals to bring the cold war to a peaceful end?

When you read his words, remember he is definitely and always has been a social democratic peace politician. His words and actions have always been consistent. Listen to him please.

John Jazwiec
Chicago and Old Naples

I remember when Mr. Gorbachev came to power in Russia. I was immediately struck by his character, and filled with hope for the world. When the reforms came in Russia I was not surprised. And now he leads the way again. First the idea, and then the implementation, is how it goes. Thank you for this piece, Mr. Gorbachev. I never thought the Russians were a real threat. It was clear to me, that food was dearer, we were selling it to them, and that some people were making much too much money on an arm's race. It is ever thus. Look at the U.S. now, stretched thinly across the globe, grasping for what? When we could be taking those tens of billions of money spent on weapons and sending kids to college for free. What a waste of resources for a civilized world, is weaponry!
 

Carolyn Egeli
Valley Lee, Md.

I wish to join the many readers in thanking Mr. Gorbachev for his excellent editorial in the Times today. My only regret is that every American will not share in reading it. We would do well to make it compulsory reading for every politician in Washington. Unfortunately it will either be ignored or criticized by the right so that they can continue to protect and further the agenda of the special interests of the industrial military complex. President Obama could take this torch and run with it but it may not be politically the right time. Too bad but thanks anyway Mr.Gorbachev please stay in touch and keep the hope alive that we Americans will live up to what Winston Churchill once told President Roosevelt " you can always depend on the Americans to do the right thing but only after they have exhausted all the other options"
 

Charlie sinatra
Hilton head island sc

Excellent points, Mr. Gorbachev, and I think Americans would do well to view themselves more often through another's eyes. The primary hinderance to reasonable and fair negotiation between the United States and other countries is the unwarranted notion, held by many in Congress and in the general population, of american exceptionalism, a phrase distorted over time to imply american superiority. Until we exorcise that out of our minds, and out of our leaders, there will be nothing but more hypocrisy and double-standards set by the US.

If more americans would travel outside of the country and expose themselves to other cultures, they would find out that we aren't that exceptional, and in fact, have much to learn from other nations. Exceptionalism, in the sense of greatness, is not something you are born with, it's something you achieve and maintain through responsible and exceptional actions.

toptic
Berlin - Chicago

Many, many years ago I recall watching live television when Mikhail Gorbachev was leaving the US. He had scheduled a brief, farewell speech (I think on the tarmac.) which all the networks carried. I was riveted to the screen as he spoke, extemporaneously, for nearly two hours. Lucid, clear and with a global perspective in mind. Obviously smart and canny, as he knew the networks would not cut him off.

I echo the wishes of others that Gorbachev was back on the world stage. This man is brilliant and an invaluable resource for leading the world to a better place.

He is right to challenge the US to live up to our ideals -- and I fervently hope that President Obama (and the short-sighted Republican leadership) will take up the challenge ... and agree to a ban on testing.

The US can no longer afford to play the Bush#2 game of "if you won't let the US win, then we don't want to play." The world is too small -- and when everyone wins, the US will win, as well.

Seth J Hersh
NY

Thank you, Mr. Gorbachev, for being a voice of sanity. Perhaps if the conservative Senators and Congressmen read your piece, instead of spending all their time protecting the wealth, power, and privileges of their paymasters, the corporate super-rich, a few of them might have a glimmer of understanding that there are over six billion other people on this planet whose lives also matter and who are entitled to live without the threat of these weapons hanging over them. But I doubt it.
Fred Suffet
New York City

Despite the blather of Republicans about Ronald Reagan "winning the Cold War," it was Mikhail Gorbachev who single-handedly changed the world for the better.

We would be wise to listen to him.

yogibard
Houston

Exactly 20 years ago I lived in the Gorbachev's home province in Russia and was resentful of him for not allowing more "democracy" faster and for not relinquishing his post to the "bright lights" like Yeltsin.

I was wrong.

Andrei Vorobiev
Lexington, KY
 

The New York Times, January.2011