Momentum stalls on Obama nuclear agenda

WASHINGTON (Reuters): Shortly after taking office, U.S. President Barack Obama set the goal of eventually ridding the world of nuclear weapons as a central theme of his presidency and pledged dramatic steps to lead the way.

But after lofty rhetoric and a few steps forward, Obama is facing fresh doubts about whether he is willing to take the political, diplomatic and budgetary risks that may be needed to bring his vision closer to reality. At home, arms-control advocates who once extolled his ambitious plans are complaining about funding cuts for several key nuclear security programs, while critics on the right are leveling election-year accusations that his policies weaken America’s strategic deterrence.

At the same time, Obama’s efforts to spur global cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism, which he once called the “single biggest threat” to U.S. security, have been overshadowed by the more urgent challenges of thwarting Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear development. All of this is weighing on Obama’s broader nuclear agenda as he heads to Seoul next weekend for the second Nuclear Security Summit. He inaugurated the event earlier in his tenure.

“The nuclear-free vision thing has run up against facts on the ground,” according to an outside expert who advises the White House on national security.

“So, for now, there’s going to be an abundance of talk and not much serious action.”

Granted, it’s been more than just talk up to this point.

Obama unveiled a revamped policy in 2010 renouncing development of new nuclear weapons and restricting use of those already in Washington’s arsenal. He followed that up by signing a landmark arms reduction deal with Russia last year.

He secured specific commitments from world leaders at the inaugural 2010 summit in Washington to help keep bomb-grade material out of terrorists’ hands, and independent experts say most of the pledges are being met though many were modest in scope.

But momentum has slowed on Obama’s nuclear agenda and, with the Nov. 6 presidential election looming, chances for major new advances look doubtful.

Underscoring a sense of caution, defense and national security officials have spent months debating a secret set of new options being prepared for Obama to help guide future arms-control talks. Ideas range from maintaining the status quo to reducing warheads by up to 80 percent, an official has said.

But the administration appears reluctant to push publicly on such a divisive issue as the election campaign gathers pace.