My discussions over the last ten months have only strengthened my view that the Treaty is a very important part of global non-proliferation efforts and is compatible with keeping a safe, reliable U.S. nuclear deterrent. I believe that an objective and thorough net assessment shows convincingly that U.S. interests, as well as those of friends and allies, will be served by the Treaty's entry into force. They are only subject to an informal regime created by unilateral, parallel declarations made by George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev in the autumn of 1991, the latter of which subsequently was affirmed and expanded upon by Boris Yeltsin in January 1992. Since then, TNW have not figured prominently in the bilateral U.S.-Russian arms control and disarmament agenda. Federal support is, at best, irregular, forcing regional governments to help with maintenance and training.
Sailors are often on their own for food and other essentials.
But the crew of the Kursk had it better than most crews, with top recruits, steady sponsorship from the Kursk region, and a high-profile mission. The situation is worse for less active submarines, and far worse for decommissioned subs. The year 2000 ended on a hopeful note in Kashmir, with India's ceasefire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan being extended until January 26. The principal Kashmiri political umbrella group seems interested in a dialogue with New Delhi, and the Pakistan military has withdrawn some forces from the Line of Control separating them from Indian units. All three constituencies now must consider who will talk, about what, and how they can continue the momentum.