A new, August 2008 survey by Harris Interactive found that two thirds of Americans believe that possession of nuclear weapons by some countries encourages others to develop their own nuclear arsenals.The findings, released before the August 29 anniversary of nuclear proliferation, when the Soviet Union successfully tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, suggest the world needs a broader approach for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

“Americans understand that 'Do as I say, not as I do' is advice that is falling on deaf ears,” said Susan Gordon, Executive Director of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability and member of the Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World Coordinating Committee. “By clinging to thousands of these weapons, the nuclear nations of the world send the wrong message and make us all less secure. “It's up to the next president to lead the world toward a nuclear weapons free world, as part of his strategy to stop the spread of nuclear weapons,” she said.