The North Carolina Republican, who gained his position through seniority, runs his own foreign policy, quashing any ambassadorial candidate he doesn't like personally and pushing on the government his disdain for treaties that might contain the growth and spread of nuclear or chemical weapons. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich ought to press as hard as they can to get a rein on this grotesque abuse of power and push Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to the floor for a vote. The result in cases such as this could be a serious setback in U.S. foreign-policy interests. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty , which can take effect only if all the nations with nukes or capable of building them sign on, would help contain the development and spread of those weapons. With nations such as Iran trying to lure Russian nuclear scientists, with India and Pakistan having conducted their macho-threat tests, this treaty is urgent.
Opponents obviously disagree, and senators can line up any way they want.
But senators ought not tolerate being denied the right and responsibility to take up this question themselves. Too much is at stake. And part of what is at stake is the integrity of the Senate system itself. Inc. All Rights Reserved.