INF Treaty Ratification Debate

The Senate debates an amendment proposed by Senator Symms to the INF Treaty. The amendment would delay ratification of the treaty until the Soviets complied with previously signed arms control agreements. The amendment has five sections which relate to the following: the ABM Treaty, the Limited Test ban Treaty, chemcial and biological weapons, SALT I, and SALT II. Supporting Symms are Senators Karnes, Cranston, Lugar, Cohen, Helmes and Warner. All expressed concern that without the amendment the INF Treaty would send a signal to the Soviet Union to the effect that it was permissible to cheat. On the opposite side are Senators Pell and Dole who argued that the amendment was a “killer amendment” that would prevent ratification of a necessary treaty. close