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.

Gordon added that a growing number of conservatives such as former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Schultz are now advocates of this approach. Both U.S. presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain (R) and Sen. Barack Obama (D), endorse the goal of a nuclear weapons free world.

Sixty-eight percent of survey respondents believe possession of nuclear weapons by the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea encourages countries without nuclear weapons to develop them. Twenty-two percent of respondents said it had no impact, and 11 percent said it discouraged development of nuclear weapons.

The survey was sponsored by the Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World and written and conducted by Harris Interactive. Survey respondents answered this question:
“Nine (9) countries – the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea – currently have nuclear weapons. The major nuclear powers have attempted to persuade other nations to not develop nuclear weapons. What impact do you think the possession of nuclear weapons by these countries has on other countries that do not currently possess nuclear weapons – do you think it discourages them from developing nuclear weapons, encourages them to develop nuclear weapons, or has no impact on their developing nuclear weapons?”
– Poll results from a Harris poll commissioned by the Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World, posted by Martin Fleck, CNWFW Coordinator

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