Obama Combines Dreams with Action in START Treaty

He is definitely not naïve. Last year, American President Barack Obama said in his famous Prague speech that he strives for a world without nuclear weapons — but he does not expect it to happen in his lifetime. He repeated those words last week when signing a historic pact, again in Prague. The new START I Treaty includes a 30 percent reduction of American and Russian strategic nuclear warheads, leading to 1550 each. Both countries will also reduce the number of rockets and airplanes that can transport nuclear warheads by half. Moreover, in a new strategy, the United States will limit the number of potential targets of a possible nuclear attack. With this, Obama pairs realistic steps and idealistic ambitions. This combination of dreams and action is praiseworthy. Just like the eventual realization of health insurance for every American, it shows that Obama the Dreamer can achieve real success, even though it comes with much political wheeling and dealing.

In addition, signing the START Treaty came at the right moment, as the United States will be hosting an international conference on nuclear safety. Forty-seven countries will discuss — among other topics — confining the risk of nuclear terrorism, like a “dirty” bomb attack.

The START Treaty, which tackles the legacy of the Cold War, is at the same time a new start. Although the biggest fear of an international nuclear war has diminished, the threat of a nuclear arms race remains, particularly within the tumultuous Middle East. When the U.S. and Russia display their good intentions after years of tumultuous relations, it will ease international cooperation on different sensitive topics, like a joint Russian-American — and who knows a Chinese — action toward Iran’s possible attempts to obtain nuclear weapons. The only disappointment is that Israel cancelled last minute. The country, which is a nuclear power but does not want to admit it, was supposed to be present for the first time. It, however, was too fearful of criticism for its reluctance to allow international inspections. This shows once more that achieving a world without nuclear weapons is almost a mission impossible, and definitely one that requires endurance. For exactly this reason, it is enchanting that there are politicians who believe in it.