Hagel: U.S. Should Give Up Nukes Before Rogue Nations

photo credit: secretary of defense

Before dealing with the nuclear arsenals of rogue nations, the U.S. and Russia must first lead the effort by phasing out their own nuclear weapons, argued Chuck Hagel in largely unreported remarks during a 2009 Al Jazeera interview.

Al Jazeera host Riz Khan asked Hagel to address the disarmament of “rogue” states – referring to Iran and North Korea.

Hagel replied: “Let’s begin with the two nuclear powers that now are responsible for ninety-six percent of the nuclear weapons in the world. Russia and the United States have a particular obligation. We must join in some unison here to lead the rest of the world.”

Hagel spent the interview arguing for a nuclear-free world, with the U.S and Russia to take the first steps.

“That’s the point behind having American leadership as well as Russian leadership out front on eliminating nuclear weapons,” he said.

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