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November 19, 2010

Obama Pushes Ratification of Russia Nuke Treaty
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The Obama administration is ramping up calls for Senate ratification of
an arms reduction treaty with Russia amidst growing Republican
opposition. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, calls
for the United States and Russia to cut their deployed arsenals to 1,550
nuclear warheads and 700 missile silos and bombers each. Republicans
want a ratification vote delayed until next year, when Democrats will
have a harder time obtaining enough votes with a reduced Senate
majority. Shortly before departing for the NATO summit in Portugal,
President Obama launched a new push for Senate approval by hosting a
meeting with top Republican figures including former U.S. Secretary of
States Henry Kissinger and James Baker.

President Obama: "This is not a matter that can be delayed. Every month
that goes by without a treaty means that we are not able to verify what
is going on on the ground in Russia. And if we delay indefinitely,
America’s leadership on non-proliferation and America’s national
security will be weakened."



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