I've been asked by a group of policy experts in Washington - they haven't announced their existence yet; they're waiting for the election to be over - to analyze the challenges and possibilities of enforcing a world free of nuclear weapons. They intend to outline a series of practical steps to get to a world free of nuclear weapons in the next ten to twenty years. This paper is part of the process of making the steps to that goal seem concrete and therefore achievable.

    I'm humbled and proud to be asked to be a part of this effort. I can think of no more important task. And I realize that it's not the sort of task you can do on your own - without help or advice. At least it's not something you can do well working alone. As I start drafting this paper, I'd be happy if any of you had ideas about how to enforce a world free of nuclear weapons would post them or send them on to me.

    President Kennedy said, in the peace speech at my alma mater, American University in 1963: "So let us persevere. Peace need not be impracticable, and war need not be inevitable. By defining our goal more clearly, by making it seem more manageable and less remote, we can help all peoples to see it, to draw hope from it, and to move irresistibly toward it."