THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 9, 2002
PRESS BRIEFING BY ARI FLEISCHER

Q: Ari, what's the President's position of possible resumption of
nuclear testing? Does he want to keep -- testing?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, as you know, the President has announced with
President Putin an agreement to reduce the number of weapons in the
American arsenal down to some 1,700 to 2,200 weapons. As those weapons
are reduced, some will be removed from operational status and are
earmarked for destruction; others will be replaced in retired status,
awaiting eventual destruction, and still others will be maintained in
a non-deployed status as a hedge against unforeseen technical or
international events

Q:  What about testing?

MR. FLEISCHER: Testing? And on testing, the President has said that we
will continue to adhere to the no-testing policy, if that would change
in the future, we would never rule out the possible need to test to
make certain that the stockpile, particularly as it's reduced, is
reliable and safe. So he has not ruled out testing in the future, but
there are no plans to do so.


Sources
Washington File