ABSTRACT
In any discussion of arms control treaties and verification it is important to put the treaty, rigorous adherence to it, and violation by an adversary into the proper perspective. There is a close link between the technical and political dimensions of arms control treaty verification provisions. Drafting provisions for arms control seems to require what is known in the US legal profession as "creative ambiguity." The utility of onsite inspections is vastly overrated and problems arising over how inspections are to be initiated and how they are to be conducted have occupied much time and effort of arms control negotiators. The whole process of verification is one of intelligence gathering specifically directed to arms control provisions. Arms control agreements are concluded because they are perceived to be in the security self-interest of the parties involved. The procedure for verification, the very operation of the inspection groups, invites the parties involved into a growing degree of cooperation.
