by Jim Tankersley
Big week for Dick Lugar. First, the Republican senator from Indiana drew headlines for criticizing President Bush's troop "surge" strategy in Iraq on the Senate floor.
Then today, he and a wannabe president, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), announced they've snared nearly $50 million for an eponymous initiative to intercept and destroy weapons stockpile – including weapons of mass destruction – worldwide.
Funding for the so-called "Lugar-Obama nonproliferation initiative" would "be used to destroy conventional weapons stockpiles, intercept weapons of mass destruction and respond to proliferation emergencies," according to a joint release from the senators. If approved by both chambers and signed into law, the money would complete a bipartisan effort Lugar and Obama launched in 2005.
Here's the full text from the joint release:
Obama, Lugar Secure Funding for Implementation of Nonproliferation Law
$48 million funding increase to be used to destroy conventional weapons stockpiles, intercept weapons of mass destruction and respond to proliferation emergencies
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee accepted their request to provide funding to implement the Lugar-Obama nonproliferation initiative. The Appropriations Committee expressed support for the initiative and provided $48 million for Lugar-Obama, $36 million for programs to destroy heavy conventional weapons, $10 million for efforts to intercept weapons and materials of mass destruction, and $2 million for rapid response to proliferation detection and interdiction emergencies. This is the culmination of an 18 month effort to authorize and fund the Lugar-Obama initiative.
First introduced in November 2005 and enacted in 2007, the Lugar-Obama initiative enhances U.S. efforts to destroy conventional weapons stockpiles and to detect and interdict weapons and materials of mass destruction throughout the world.
“I applaud the decision to provide funding to implement the Lugar-Obama initiative – a major step forward in addressing critical security challenges faced by the United States and our allies,” said Senator Obama. “Much of this funding will prevent conventional weapons from being used against our service members in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and from falling into the hands of terrorists and fueling civil wars around the world. This funding will further strengthen our ability to detect and intercept illegal shipments of weapons and materials of mass destruction, enhancing efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism. I commend Senators Leahy and Gregg for their support on this critical issue.”
“We believe that eliminating conventional weapons stockpiles and assisting other nations in detecting and interdicting weapons of mass destruction has been underfunded, fragmented and in need of high-level support,” Lugar said. “For example, we want to ensure that our government has the capacity to deal quickly with vulnerable stockpiles of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, otherwise known as Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS). Such weapons could be used by terrorists to attack commercial airliners, military installations and government facilities here at home and abroad. Al Qaeda reportedly has attempted to acquire MANPADS on a number of occasions.”
The Lugar-Obama initiative is modeled after the Nunn-Lugar program that focuses on weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union. Lugar and former Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) authored the program in 1991. It has provided U.S. funding and expertise to help the former Soviet Union safeguard and dismantle its enormous stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, related materials, and delivery systems. Among many accomplishments, the program has deactivated 7,000 nuclear warheads and reemployed 58,000 scientists in peaceful research. Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan are nuclear weapons free as a result of cooperative efforts under the Nunn-Lugar program. They otherwise would be the world's the third, fourth and eighth largest nuclear weapons powers, respectively.
The Senate Appropriations Committee report language on the Lugar-Obama initiative is as follows: “Materials of Mass Destruction.---The Committee supports sections 10-12 of Public Law 109-472 which strengthens U.S. efforts to interdict illicit shipments of weapons or materials of mass destruction and secure vulnerable stockpiles of conventional weapons. The Committee provides $48,059,000 to implement these programs, of which $10,000,000 is under Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance, $36,059,000 is under the Small Arms and Light Weapons Destruction program, and $2,000,000 is under the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund.”
Lugar and Obama traveled together to Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan in August 2005 to oversee a number of Nunn-Lugar projects. Obama and Lugar introduced the legislation in November 2005.
Operative sections of Lugar-Obama became law in January 2007. Later in 2007, Lugar and Obama pressed the Appropriations Committee to provide funding for its implementation.
Senators Obama and Lugar are members of the Foreign Relations Committee. Lugar serves as the Committee’s Ranking Member. Obama is Chairman of the European Affairs Subcommittee.
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Comments
Congratulations to these senators. This is leadership.
Posted by: Doug Zook | June 28, 2007 5:59 PM
I'm starting to warm up to this Lugar guy although I still hold it against him that he lockstepped with W. on Iraq until he realized that it was political suicide for the Republic Party.
Lugar, Gordon Smith, Chuck Hagel etc. are starting to win my respect by actually having the guts to speak their minds on occasion instead of lockstepping with the other Republican robots all the time.
Posted by: John E | June 28, 2007 7:02 PM
Here, you loons and the Left-wing reporters with a lying agenda my find this information very helpful.
Read up Tony, Doogie, Johnnny E and the rest of the clueless Leftv(and there is even contact info to verify):
I hope this update finds you all well. We continue to move forward
with the development of Iraq. I am sure you are aware the last couple of
days have been a little rough on the casualty side with our numbers
growing.
Regardless of what the media states this is due to the fact that we
continue to squeeze the enemy north of Baghdad and he is fighting back. I
actually heard one reporter last week state that this was not the case
as the recent surge in casualties was not by "direct combat" but rather
by roadside IEDs. Some one needs to inform her that this enemy is
smart enough not to face us head to head. His tactics are directed right
at the reporter in the hopes that she will do exactly just as she did in
her statements and analysis. Enough said about that, I just ask that
you pray for the young soldiers of whom will forever be in our memories
as heroes.
I spent two days in Kuwait this past week attempting to pitch an
airport Hotel concept to two investment firms. I was given the directive by
the Chief of Staff of Corps to personally lead this economic
development at the Baghdad International Airport effort and to have some real
results for the Commanding General. Currently, we are renovating a
convention center and office building and many other smaller infrastructure
projects to include trash removal, fire safety and air controller
training. When asked if I have an experience in aviation my answer is no,
but I did spend last night at a Holiday Inn Express. Yea, I know, not
that funny. In any case one does not say no to the CG and I have a team
of seven project managers of whom there is some aviation experience
working with me on this (and in case you are concerned, SFC Conley is on
the Airport team now as well, funny how that happened). While I am not
sure if we will be successful in getting a hotel ground breaking by
summer's end I am doing my best. Bottom line is that we have some
interested parties but no one is going to commit to such a large project
without Iraqi Government assurances that they will not have it all taken from
them in two years. I will keep you posted on our progress here.
Oh, and yes, I did get to stay in a very nice hotel in Kuwait City.
Only
problem: Alcohol is illegal in Kuwait.
Lastly, here is a photo of another fine NCO, SSG Begley is an Air force
communications NCO and was my driver on one of our recent convoys. I
call him "guns" as the fella is no small boy. About twice the size of
Woody!
He has actually been driving me more these days as even though SFC
Conley and SPC Tran, my regular vehicle team are still a part of our convoy
teams, we are trying to separate the knowledge base of specific
sections into multiple vehicles for security reasons.
Take care and enjoy your summer!!!
Scottie Venable
LTC, Chief, Economic Development
Multi National Corps - Iraq
Camp Slayer, BLDG V8
APO AE 09342
MCI 914.360.9230
IRAQNA 0790.193.9598
VOIP: 703.673.7066
E-MAIL NIPR:stefanos.venable@iraq.centcom.mil
SIPR:stefanos.venable@s-iraq.centcom.mil
AKO: stefanos.venable@us.army.mil
Posted by: John D | June 28, 2007 7:14 PM
Swampies,
Don't expect too much from this Lugar guy. After all he is just an old Paleo Republican apparatchik.
Posted by: C.Morris | June 28, 2007 9:06 PM
I think Crazy John Devola thinks Lugar is loony lefty.
Posted by: C.Morris | June 28, 2007 9:16 PM
"Mr. Wolfowitz, the deputy defense secretary, opened a two-front war of words on Capitol Hill, calling the recent estimate by Gen. Eric K. Shinseki of the Army that several hundred thousand troops would be needed in postwar Iraq, "wildly off the mark." Pentagon officials have put the figure closer to 100,000 troops. Mr. Wolfowitz then dismissed articles in several newspapers this week asserting that Pentagon budget specialists put the cost of war and reconstruction at $60 billion to $95 billion in this fiscal year. He said it was impossible to predict accurately a war's duration, its destruction and the extent of rebuilding afterward."
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/2003/0228pentagoncontra.htm
Posted by: Doug Zook | June 28, 2007 10:04 PM
By the way, Doogie, saw your reply to my questions but rather than reply on an old thread, thought i would do it here:
First of all, thank you for your service back in the 1970s. Second, thanks to your sister and your nephew for his service today. And thanks to your dad for his service and fortunately all came home alive.
Second, unfortunately I am older than 42 (not thrilled by that), so too old to join the military. Arthritis in the spine and a herniated disc would prevent my admission anyway.
But you still need to stop drinking that Kool Aid Johnny E gives you every day in his basement.
Posted by: John D | June 28, 2007 10:09 PM
Lil' Johnny D Goofball,
You can dig up all the phony "good news" propaganda on Iraq that you want, myself and 75% of America aren't buying it, waterboy.
Posted by: John E | June 28, 2007 10:22 PM
Wtf, John D.? Another rambling that has nothing to do with the topic where it's posted!
Posted by: KTR | June 28, 2007 11:44 PM
I spent two days in Kuwait this past week attempting to pitch an
airport Hotel concept to two investment firms.
Posted by: John D | June 28, 2007 7:14 PM
Johnny D,
This person couldn't possibly be painting a favorable picture of the situation in Iraq so that he could make money could he?
Posted by: jethro | June 29, 2007 9:57 AM
Ah, KTR, this Swamp item deals with Iraq. The e-mail is from Scott Venable, who is in Iraq.
Loony Johnny E. "phony" story??? Why don't you e-mail Mr. Venable and tell him it's "phony."
By the way, Weirdo Johnnny E., Scott is in Iraq. He tells me he's never come across you. Aren't you suppose to be there? I mean last October you said you would be sent there in January, didn't you???
Are you allowed out of the basement?
Posted by: John D | June 29, 2007 11:03 AM
John D, You can't believe how reassuring it is to know that our military is hard at work on hotels and convention centers in Iraq. Have they booked any conventions yet? If it hasn't been blown up, I think it would be the ideal place for the 2008 Republican convention. They'd be able to demonstrate just how well things are going in Iraq.
Posted by: Tom O | June 29, 2007 2:25 PM
Johnny Torture-
Please explain to me why we sacrificed 100 of our fine young service men and women this month alone to build an airport hotel in Baghdad.
How does using the military to develop commercial properties in a foriegn country serve the US security interest?
How does renovating a convention center bring about a political solution to the Iraqi civil war?
Posted by: Tony | June 29, 2007 2:49 PM