Senate pushes Obama administration to sign treaty banning land mines

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Source: The Washington Post

More than two-thirds of the Senate is urging the Obama administration to consider signing an international treaty that bans land mines, reviving a dormant campaign from the 1990s that left the United States divided from its closest allies.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) said in an interview Friday that 68 senators had signed a letter to President Obama to support a "comprehensive review" of U.S. policy on land mines. The letter is an indication that there are enough votes in the Senate to ratify the treaty -- at least 67 would be required -- if Obama signs the measure, which has languished in Washington for a decade.

"We want to show we have enough people to ratify a treaty," Leahy said. "I think there's an excellent opportunity that we'll finally do it."

The pressure from Congress leaves the White House in an awkward position as it tries to navigate between Obama's desire to work closely with allies on security issues such as nuclear disarmament, while at the same time listening to advisers at the Pentagon, many of whom are leery of such campaigns.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050705089_pf.html