There was no sudden revelation. No moment of clarity. No conscientious shift.

Over time, things just changed.

That's how Linton Brooks, former administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration and a longtime detractor of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, decided the United States should finally join 150 other nations that have ratified the accord.

And that's how Brooks, who served in both Bush administrations and insists he has not changed his posture on the importance of nuclear weapons in the nation's defense, found himself in the offices of one of Utah's most liberal environmental lobbying groups on Tuesday afternoon.

The Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah sponsored Brooks' visit as part of a new campaign to exert pressure on Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett -- both of whom voted against ratification in 1999 -- to vote in favor of ratification if the issue is brought before the Senate again next year.
Brooks will also speak as part of a panel tonight at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.

"All treaties are balancing acts. But the choice is not some hypothetical choice between this and another treaty," he said. "The choice is: Do we ratify this treaty or do we not? I'm inclined to think we should."
Brooks said that he doesn't find that inconsistent with his position against ratification in 1999.

That was the last time that the Senate considered ratifying the treaty. It got 48 votes, but needed 67.

Here's Brooks' read: Yes, the treaty would prevent the United States from conducting tests that could be important for monitoring the long-term viability of a small number of its nuclear weapons.

But over the past 10 years, great strides have been made in technologies that can simulate explosions -- data that can be derived from computer modeling is nearly as good as that which would be gleaned from an underground test. And since the political winds likely prevent nuclear testing anyway, he said, the U.S. would not be giving up a lot by formalizing an arrangement it's had since Sept. 23, 1992 -- the last time an underground test took place, in Nevada.

What would it gain? Renewed status as an international leader on nuclear control issues -- and a bully pulpit from which to pressure other nations that have not ratified the treaty, including China, Israel, Iran and North Korea.
"The argument is not that if we ratify the treaty, North Korea will suddenly turn into Iowa," Brooks said. "But many states tell us that they are not willing to do the extra things that we ask of them until we move forward on this."

He believes some are bluffing --"But let's call their bluffs," he said.

mlaplante@sltrib.com

Wednesday night's discussion:
Ambassador Linton Brooks is a veteran nuclear negotiator who was responsible for final preparation of both Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1991 and between the U.S. and Russia in 1993. He and Michelle Thomas, an activist and downwinder from Washington County, will speak tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 West 300 South, Salt Lake City. The discussion, free and open to the public, is sponsored by HEAL Utah and Plan B Theatre Company. For more information call HEAL Utah at (801) 355-5055, visit Healutah.org, or email rob@healutah.org.