Iowa Senator Tom Harkin is applauding today’s efforts by the United Nations to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The U.N. Security Council this morning unanimously approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution that urges global disarmament and aims to cut the risk of “nuclear terrorism.”
Harkin, a Democrat, says it’s not just optimistic; it’s realistic to envision a world without nukes. “I believe that is a possibility,” Harkin says. “It depends on other nations of the world but I have long supported and hoped for, dreamed of a nuclear arms-free world.”
The resolution comes as tensions are high over Iran’s suspected plans to begin stockpiling a nuclear arsenal. Harkin says with the cooperation of all other countries, it’s time to end the decades-looming threat of an atomic holocaust by diffusing all nuclear warheads and halting any future weapons production.
“Yes, I do believe it’s possible, but it’s not going to be easy,” Harkin says. “Already, if I’m not mistaken, Russia and the United States have already dismantled over 20,000 nuclear warheads, so at least those two superpowers have charted the way that we ought to be going.” President Obama chaired today’s Security Council meeting, the first time a U.S. president has presided over that international panel.