Scientists, religious leaders, and policy experts agree on the need to ratify the CTBT.

“Reliance on nuclear weapons for [deterrence] is becoming increasingly hazardous and decreasingly effective… [The U.S. should] initiat[e] a bipartisan process with the Senate, including understandings to increase confidence and provide for periodic review, to achieve ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, taking advantage of recent technical advances, and working to secure ratification by other key states.”
~ Former Secretaries of State George Shultz and Henry Kissinger, former Defense Secretary William Perry, and former Senator Sam Nunn; from “A World Free of Nuclear Weapons” in the Wall Street Journal (1/4/07)

“I say today that the greatest risk of going back to nuclear testing is that the Chinese would go back to testing and the Indians would go back to testing, the Pakistanis would go back to testing. And as I personally today weigh those risks, I definitely come out in favor that it’s in our nation’s and the world’s interest to actually ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.”
~ Former Director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Dr. Siegfried Hecker, testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Energy and Water Subcommittee (4/30/08)

“The Holy See argues that entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would demonstrate that nations are serious about their commitment to a nuclear-weapons-free-world. For us in the United States, this means that public opinion makers, including religious leaders, should help build public dialogue and support for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. And leaders of both political parties should build a strong bipartisan consensus to support the Treaty as an important step on the road to zero.”
~ Archbishop of Baltimore Edwin O’Brien, member of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, speaking at the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Deterrence Symposium (7/29/09)

“The United States faces the urgent challenge of using the year ahead to limit the risks of nuclear proliferation and to lower the level of nuclear weapons in the world. Achieving these goals is crucial to a peaceful
century... The CTBT is especially important to the goal of reducing nuclear weapons.”
~ Former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Joseph Nye, former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, and former Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, “US, Russia Must Lead World in Arms Control” Politico (10/13/09)

“Do we ratify this treaty of do we not? I’m inclined to think we should…The argument is not that if we ratify the treaty North Korea will suddenly turn into Iowa. But many states tell us that they are not willing to do the extra things that we ask of them until we move forward on this. [I believe some are bluffing.] But let’s call their bluffs.”
~ Former Undersecretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and a negotiator of the 1991 START I treaty, Ambassador Linton Brooks, The Salt Lake Tribune (10/22/09)

“More nuclear armed states means more risks to peace and stability…We can help by making deeper nuclear arms reductions, ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and fulfilling the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty – steps that would have a powerful
and positive effect.”
~ Former Co-Chairs of the 9/11 Commission Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, Washington Post (11/9/08)