"...The most important question is: Are we doing all we can to control the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, and to keep them out of the hands of terrorists? We need to use every tool that's available -- starting with time-tested strategies of prevention and international cooperation, sensibly updated. We can't afford to forgo any tool that's proven effective, whether diplomatic, economic, or military..."

"...For almost 50 years, an interlocking system of international agreements has succeeded in limiting the spread of nuclear weapons to a handful of nations and encouraging more than 150 nations to give up all chemical weapons. Thanks to another cooperative agreement, the U.S. is helping Russia do a better job of monitoring and securing its nuclear weapons and materials; the joint program has also provided 40,000 weapons scientists in the former Soviet Union with funding for peaceful research, so they don't have to go looking for work in places like North Korea and Iran. All this means far fewer opportunities for terrorists to buy or steal deadly weapons and technology. We should make this proven network of international law and cooperation stronger and more comprehensive, to reduce the risks even more..."

"...Americans understand that we can't rely on a one-dimensional strategy to control the spread of deadly weapons. Force alone won't do it -- and treaties alone won't either. But we'd never dream of throwing out our legal system at home, just because it hasn't stopped crime entirely. We know how important the rule of law is to making any community -- local or global -- a safer and better place to live. We can improve existing international laws and agreements by closing loopholes and strengthening enforcement. And we can combine the best of these law-based strategies with preventive measures -- like joining other nations in efforts to help end the regional conflicts that make deadly weapons tempting, and investing more in the successful U.S. program that helps Russia secure its dangerous weapons and materials, so terrorists can't get hold of them. Internationally, just as at home, when you combine a good legal system with smart prevention and reliable enforcement, you get real results..."

"...The basic mathematics of security hasn't changed. The larger the supply of deadly weapons around the world, the more likely they are to fall into the hands of people who mean us and others harm. A trickle of weapons is easier to contain than a flood. This means that international agreements to control the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons are as relevant as ever. They should be strengthened, not discarded..."

"...At many points in the past 50 years, we've wondered if our system of international agreements to control the spread of deadly weapons was adequate to face new threats. Working with other nations, we've responded effectively by strengthening and building on what works. If we need to make an exception to the rules because a threat is so immediate or the existing arrangements aren't functioning as they should, we should go back afterward to improve the arrangements and to keep the rules intact. You may have to exceed the speed limit in an emergency, but that doesn't mean we don't all need rules of the road..."