--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The New START accord cuts the strategic…" description: "\"“The New START accord cuts the strategic nuclear arsenals on each side to 1,550 warheads. Can any of its critics make a case that our security would be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/fred-kaplan-18752_arms-control_the-new-start-accord-cuts-the-strategic_866482.jpg" --- # The New START accord cuts the strategic nuclear arsenals… ![“The New START accord cuts the strategic nuclear arsenals on each side to 1,550 warheads. Can any of its critics make a case that our security would be imperiled if, the very next day, Obama and Medvedev made moves to take the levels down to 1,000—then to 500? If so, come show us the math. If not…” quote by Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/fred-kaplan-18752_arms-control_the-new-start-accord-cuts-the-strategic_866482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/fred-kaplan-18752_arms-control_the-new-start-accord-cuts-the-strategic_866482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/fred-kaplan-18752_arms-control_the-new-start-accord-cuts-the-strategic_866482.jpg) > ““The New START accord cuts the strategic nuclear arsenals on each side to 1,550 warheads. Can any of its critics make a case that our security would be imperiled if, the very next day, Obama and Medvedev made moves to take the levels down to 1,000—then to 500? If so, come show us the math. If not, it may be time to stop making arms control so politically complicated—time to stop letting arms control get in the way of disarmament.”” [Fred Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-kaplan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The New START treaty’s limits on nuclear arsenals are modest; critics must provide concrete security analyses before demanding further cuts. **In simple terms:** Critics need solid data to argue for more nuclear reductions. Key Takeaway Demand evidence‑based debate on arms control. Themes arms control security policy nuclear deterrence politics Mood analytical serious policy‑oriented Type explanatory critical When to use this quote - Diplomatic negotiations - defense budgeting - public advocacy - academic research Key Concepts International relations strategic stability policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - What data would convincingly show that further cuts threaten security? - How can policymakers balance disarmament with deterrence? A Different Perspective Political rhetoric often oversimplifies complex security calculations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [550 Warheads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/550-warheads-908459/) [Arms Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-control-363830/) [Arms-control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-control-10705/) [Barack obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barack-obama/) [Disarmament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarmament/) [Geopolitics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geopolitics/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [New start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-start/) [Next day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-day/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear Arsenals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-arsenals-908458/) [Nuclear disarmament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-disarmament/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Way Disarmament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-disarmament-908460/) ## Related quotes > [The five original nuclear weapon states I mentioned - U.S., Britain, France, China, and Russia - under the NPT have committed to the achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-five-original-nuclear-weapon-states-i-mentioned-u-s-britain/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [ “...\[T\]he Normans, with the usual policy of conquerors, were jealous of permitting to the vanquished Saxons the possession or the use of swords and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/t-he-normans-with-the-usual-policy-of-conquerors-were-jealous-of/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The decision to use the atom bomb on Japanese cities, and the consequent buildup of enormous nuclear arsenals, was made by governments, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rotblat/the-decision-to-use-the-atom-bomb-on-japanese-cities-and-the/) [Joseph Rotblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rotblat/) > [The reduction of nuclear arsenals and the removal of the threat of worldwide nuclear destruction is a measure, in my judgment, ofthe power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/the-reduction-of-nuclear-arsenals-and-the-removal-of-the-threat-of/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [We have a chance to wind down and expedite the removal of 96 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. 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