The Foreign Service Journal, December 2010

hails as the “cornerstone of Euro- pean security”—achieved its goals by eliminating more than 80,000 pieces of military equipment, conducting more than 6,000 inspections and es- sentially removing the possibility of surprise attack in Central Europe. However, the treaty is under consid- erable stress due to Russia’s “suspen- sion” of its compliance since 2007. The primary issue is Moscow’s displeasure at NATO’s failure to ratify the Adapted Treaty, which changes the ob- ligations to reflect the new reality in Europe since the breakup of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact. NATO, for its part, insists that Russia fulfill promises given at the 1999 Is- tanbul Summit to remove its forces from Moldova and Georgia. The 2008 conflict in the Caucasus and its after- math greatly complicate the situation. Space Policy The new U.S. National Space Policy, issued on June 28, updates Washington’s stance in an area that is critical for both commercial and international se- curity reasons. The new administra- tion policy declares that “The United States will consider proposals and con- cepts for arms control measures if they are equitable, effectively verifiable, and enhance the national security of the United States and its allies.” Washington is now showing a new flexibility regarding possible constraints on activities in, or relevant to, space. This impinges on both the security of U.S. space assets and the ABM issue. Every year in the United Nations, there is an overwhelming vote in favor of avoiding an arms race in space, with the U.S. frequently being a lonely vote in opposition. A Daunting Agenda The State Department is naturally playing a central role in the administration’s efforts on arms control. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has assembled a strong and dedicated team, including U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher, Assistant Secretary for Verifica- tion, Compliance and Implementation and Chief START Negotiator Rose Gottemoeller, Ambassador to the Con- ference on Disarmament Laura Kennedy, Special Repre- sentative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation Ambassador Susan Burk and former NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland, who is working on CFE issues. At the working level in these areas, with arms control front and center and quite exciting once again, there are good op- portunities for FSOs to make working on international se- curity issues part of their career path. The Obama administration has set itself an ambitious and daunting agenda for arms control and international se- curity. One should not expect instant success on these com- plex issues, some of which have been with us for decades. After all, these noble efforts must compete with two diffi- cult wars, economic distress and huge deficits, a resurgent Russia and a highly partisan atmosphere in Congress. Rather, current U.S. arms control policies should be seen as part of the effort to restore U.S. moral authority in the world, promote and extend the rule of law and strengthen international security through the upholding and extending of international norms. Even partial suc- cess in this effort would be an important achievement in the overall conduct of U.S. foreign policy. ■ Even partial success on the Obama administration’s ambitious agenda would be an important achievement. 44 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 F O C U S