Sunday Summary: The New START Debate Posted by Kelsey Hartigan

With the substantive debate over New START concluded some time ago, the only question left to answer is whether or not the Republican party will sacrifice American national security for cheap political points.

 

Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post:  An unusual split has opened between conservative Republicans and the American military leadership over the U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty, with current and former generals urging swift passage but politicians expressing far more skepticism.  Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) "essential to our future security." 

But five Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a recent report that New START was "a bad deal." They added that U.S. military leaders had made assumptions about the pact - including that Russia will honor it - that are "optimistic in the extreme."  Meanwhile, the conservative Heritage Foundation's grass-roots lobbying arm is targeting Republican senators with mailings warning that the treaty "benefits Russia's interests, not ours."

Retired Lt. Gen. Dirk Jameson, the former deputy commander of U.S. nuclear forces, said Friday that it was "quite puzzling to me why all of this support [for New START]… is ignored. I don't know what that says about the trust that people have and the confidence they have in our military."

 

Leslie H. Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council for Foreign Relations:  Cast aside any doubts. There seems to be nothing Republicans won’t do to deny President Obama a political success at home—even if it means jeopardizing U.S. national security.

 Senatorial Republicans would do well to remember that old and quaint phrase: The National Interest.

 

Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator (D-CA):  If Republicans in the Senate succeed in delaying ratification of the New START agreement — a distinct possibility — it may be months before American inspectors get another look at Russian nuclear weapons.

This profoundly negative outcome would damage U.S. national security and set the cause of global arms control back years… During the 15-year lifespan of the old START agreement, the United States conducted 659 inspections of Russian nuclear facilities, and Russia conducted 481 inspections of our facilities.

It would be foolish and wrong to let partisan politics bring this era of cooperation to an end. Worse, it would make us blind to the true size and capabilities of the Russian arsenal. There is no question this would weaken our national security. That would be indefensible.

 

LA Times: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Saturday rejected claims by Senate Republicans that the New START arms reduction treaty with Russia would hamper U.S. missile defense programs and nuclear weapons modernization, warning of "significant consequences" if the Senate doesn't ratify the accord. 

"Despite what anybody says, I, as secretary of Defense, and the entire uniformed leadership of the American military believe that this treaty is in our national security interest," Gates said, taking on claims by critics of the treaty that some in the military privately oppose the accord.

 

Dana Milbank, Washington Post:  Republicans seem to have entered a post-post-9/11 era, in which national security is no longer a higher priority than their interest in undermining President Obama... Let's start with START, the proposed nuclear pact with Russia that Senate Republicans such as Jon Kyl (Ariz.) are attempting to derail, at least until the next Congress. Since the expiration of the previous START treaty last December, there have been no U.S. inspectors in Russia to keep an eye on the country's thousands of nuclear warheads. 

 Listen to Richard Lugar, top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations committee and one man who still puts the national interest above political considerations. "We're talking today about the national security of the United States of America," he pleaded on Wednesday. "[T]his treaty must be ratified and be ratified in this session of the Congress.... We're talking about thousands of warheads that are still there, an existential problem for our country. To temporize at this point I think is inexcusable."

Or listen to Bob Gates, the Bush/Obama defense secretary. "The new START treaty has the unanimous support of America's military leadership," he wrote in the Wall Street Journal, calling for a strong bipartisan majority to support the treaty because of "the security it provides to the American people."

To borrow Bush's phrase, are Republicans not interested in the security of the American people? 

 

NY Times:  The world’s nuclear wannabes, starting with Iran, should send a thank you note to Senator Jon Kyl. After months of negotiations with the White House, he has decided to try to block the lame-duck Senate from ratifying the New Start arms control treaty.

The treaty is so central to this country’s national security, and the objections from Mr. Kyl — and apparently the whole Republican leadership — are so absurd that the only explanation is their limitless desire to deny President Obama any legislative success.

The Republicans like to claim that they are the party of national security. We can only hope that other senators in the party will decide that the nation’s security interests must trump political maneuvering.

 

Daniel Drezner:  Republican Senators are STARTing to feel the heat.

 

Politico: In his Saturday address to the nation, President Barack Obama warned Senate Republicans that the continued failure to ratify a nuclear arms treaty with Russia will have serious consequences, declaring that "our security and our position in the world are at stake."

“Without ratification, we put at risk the coalition that we have built to put pressure on Iran, and the transit route through Russia that we use to equip our troops in Afghanistan,” Obama warned.  Calling for an end to partisan “bickering” Obama urged senators to set aside partisanship and act for the good of the nation.

“The choice is clear: a failure to ratify New START would be a dangerous gamble with America’s national security, setting back our understanding of Russia’s nuclear weapons, as well as our leadership in the world,” the president said. “That is not what the American people sent us to Washington to do.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[pandora]

But wearing those expensive pandora necklaces is inconvenient, even if, people sometimes pays attention to these things, but is not to pay attention to yourself. On the party i hear some women often saying: “o, my God, do you see that pandora bracelets that she wears “? This means that pandora chains already are more important than that woman.

[LaundryBasketcollapsible]

Em..
It would be foolish and wrong to let partisan politics bring this era of cooperation to an end. Worse, it would make us blind to the true size and capabilities of the Russian arsenal. There is no question this would weaken our national security. That would be indefensible.
hahah

[HOMME MONCLER DOUDOUNE]

Moncler doudoune produits en 1954 ont été sélectionnés pour l'expédition italienne de ruines antiques de l'empire mongol et de l'équipement.
Moncler homme doudoune en 1955, l'expédition française pour la fourniture de Makale.

[wholesale shoes]

Good article, looking more like it, hope you can still see good work.

[dfd]

If you have other views,chanel replica. please Email to me

[Emu Australia Boots]

Moonboots freezing when you

wear conventional Emu boots boots. Even if you Emu

Boots happen to be wearing

[led display]

world place!

[ugg boots clearance]

Our ugg boots clearance nails aren’t just a convenient place to put colored polish. Nails, on both the fingers and the toes, are made of keratin, the same stuff our hair contains, only denser and harder. Nails are the primate equivalent of hooves and claws on other animals. Animals use their claws or talons to catch prey, climb trees, and defend themselves. Humans have evolved to the point where fingernails are not vital for survival, but there’s no doubt that they’re useful ugg boots clearance. They help when we’re performing fine motor skills, like untying knots and preparing food. They’re also important for scratching (a pleasurable experience most mammals enjoy) and grooming ugg boots clearance.

Toenails are less important than fingernails ugg boots clearance. At this stage of our evolution, they’re little more than remnants. Watching apes and monkeys use their feet to grasp objects reminds us that at one point it was useful to have nails on our toes, but they’re simply not as necessary now. Apes and monkeys also have opposable thumbs on their feet that help their dexterity. Since humans don’t have these, our feet are useful mainly for ambulation ugg boots clearance.

One thing that nails are not for is protection of the nail bed. Contrary to popular belief, they serve no protective purpose ugg boots clearance, and without fingernails or toenails, our digits would not be uncomfortably sensitive; the nail bed would simply become harder and tougher to accommodate the new level of exposure ugg boots outlet.

[ugg classic tall]

the highest-grade sheepskin availableugg outlet , is the age which suitable to restore the old, the every large or small varied assortment the classical design again returned to people's line of sight, from the wind series's return, 3 rewirings went forth to battle recently to Classic Short UGG the Garnett ... Classic Tiffany Jewelry. Publisher: Alina008. As we all know that ...ugg classic tall is packed in cartons and Blue Ribbon is the symbol of Tiffany jewelry..

[ugg boots clearance]

Although Waknuk itself was the biggest farm in the district, most of them were organized along the same lines, and

all of them growing larger, for with the improving stability-rate there was the incentive to extend; every year

felling of trees and clearing went on to make new fields. The woods and spurs of forest were being nibbled away until

the countryside was beginning to look like the old, long-cultivated land in the east.

href="http://cheapestuggsclearance.com" title="UGG Boots Clearance">UGG Boots Clearance
It was said that nowadays even people in Rigo knew where Waknuk was without looking it up on the map.
I lived, in fact, on the most prosperous farm in a prospering district. At the age of ten, however, I had little

appreciation of that. My impression was of an uncomfortably industrious place where there always seemed to be more

jobs than people, unless one was careful, so on this particular evening I contrived to lie low until routine sounds

told me that it was near enough to the mealtime for me to show myself safely.

title="UGG Boots Clearance">UGG Boots Clearance
I hung about, watching the horses being unharnessed and turned out. Presently the bell on the gable-end tolled a

couple of times. Doors opened, and people came into the yard, making for the kitchen. I went along with them. The

warning: WATCH THOU FOR THE MUTANT! faced me as I went in, but it was much too familiar to stir a thought. What

interested me ex?clusively at the moment was the smell of food.UGG Boots Clearance

3
I usually went over to see Sophie once or twice a week after that. What schooling we had — which was a matter of

half a dozen children being taught to read and write and do some sums by one or another of several old women — took

place in the mornings. It was not difficult at the midday meal to slip away from the table early and disappear until

everyone would think someone else had found a job for me.

UGGS">Clearance UGGS
When her ankle was quite recovered she was able to show me the favourite corners of her territory.
One day I took her over our side of the big bank to see the steam-engine. There wasn't another steam-engine within a

hundred miles, and we were very proud of it. Corky, who looked after it, was not about, but the doors at the end of

its shed were open, letting out the sound of a rhythmic groaning, creaking, and puffing. We ventured on to the

threshold and peered into the gloom inside. It was fascinating to watch the big timbers moving up and down with

wheezing noises while up in the shadows of the roof a huge cross-beam rocked slowly backwards and forwards, with a

pause at the end of each tilt as though it were summoning up energy for the next effort. Fascinating — but, after a

time, monotonous.Ugg boots clearance
Ten minutes of it were enough, and we withdrew to climb to the top of the wood-pile beside the shed. We sat there

with the whole heap quivering beneath us as the engine chugged ponderously on.
'My Uncle Axel says the Old People must have had much better engines than this,' I told her.
'My father says that if one-quarter of the things they say about the Old People are true, they must have been

magicians: not real people, at all,' Sophie countered.
' But they were wonderful,' I insisted.
' Too wonderful to be true, he says,' she told me.
' Doesn't he think they were able to fly, like people say?' I asked.
' No. That's silly. If they could've, we'd be able to.'

[ugg boots clearance]

Aredhel Ar-Feiniel, the White Lady of the Noldor, daughter of Fingolfin, dwelt in Nevrast with Turgon her brother, and she went with him to the Hidden Kingdom. But she wearied of ugg boots clearanceof Gondolin, desiring ever the longer the more to ride again in the wide lands and to walk in the forests, as had been her wont in Valinor: and when two hundred years had passed since Gondolin was full-wrought with louis vuitton outlet, she spoke to Turgon and asked leave to depart. Turgon was loath to grant this, and long denied her; but at the last he yielded, saying: 'Go then, if you will though it is against my wisdom, and I forebode that ill will come of it both to you and to me. But you shall go only to seek Fingon, our brother; and those ugg boots outletthat I send with you shall return hither to Gondolin as swiftly as they may.'
But Aredhel said: 'I am your sister and not your servant, and beyond your bounds I will go as seems good to me. And if you begrudge me an escort, then I will go alone.'

[Liushuanglin198606]

On my Egypt Air flight yesterday to Cairo, I witnessed one of the more intriguing in-flight exchanges that I can remember. A bearded, well-dressed man sitting a few seats behind me began shouting at the flight attendant. He was complaining that the in-flight movie was inappropriate. What are these “offensive images?” he asked. These included a 15-minute stretch of the movie where at least one woman at any given time was wearing a bikini. In a couple of scenes at a club, members of opposite sexes were dancing in close proximity while, it appeared, consuming alcoholic beverages. “Are we really all Westernized now?” the man behind me asked, as if posing a question to those of us in the back of the plane.

The man’s arguments were rather interesting. He pointed out that if you took a poll of the passengers,ugg boots outlet most would agree the film was morally offensive. He asked the attendant, “if we ask the passengers what they think and they agree with me, then what will you do?” The attendant responded, “we don’t take public opinion (ra’i al ‘am) on the airplane.” The man was right: most passengers, and most Egyptians – the vast majority of whom don’t drink, go to clubs, or wear bikinis – would object to the film’s content. But at what point do they have the right to restrict minority expressions of unfaithfulness?

It was an odd, amusing exchange that justified the otherwise unpleasant experience of flying on EgyptAir.ugg boots clearance But it was a reminder of the fundamental lack of consensus in the Arab world over the boundaries and limits of the state. There are two groups – Islamists and secular elites – with worldviews which couldn’t be more different. They live parallel lives in parallel worlds, with parallel institutions. They rarely intersect.ugg boots clearance One group believes it has both history and the Egyptian people on its side. The other side, considerably smaller in number, likely has neither. It does, however, have the power.

This stalemate has paralyzed the Arab world for decades now.ugg boots outlet

Sunday’s elections will be just another version of this.ugg boots clearance The main players are the Muslim Brotherhood – populist, religious, and righteous – and the regime coalition which, with its president soon to pass, finds itself in an uncertain place. Both sides are strong in different ways – and weak in others. Neither seems to have anything resembling a coherent strategy for dealing with the impending transition that is soon to come.

ugg boots clearance

[55 inch lcd]

Thank you for sharing this. It is short and simple to understand. No mumbo, jumbo.

[led miner cap lamp]

Specialize in manufacture explosion proof light, including: explosion proof floodlight, led flashlight, spot lamp, led mining light, led searching light with rechargeable battery in China.

[sesli sohbet]

But five Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a recent report that New START was "a bad deal." They added that U.S. military leaders had made assumptions about the pact - including that Russia will honor it - that are "optimistic in the extreme." Meanwhile, the conservative Heritage Foundation's grass-roots lobbying arm is targeting Republican senators with mailings warning that the treaty "benefits Russia's interests, not ours
sohbet chat seslisohbet seslichat seslisohbet siteleri seslichat siteleri

[R4]

Like several handheld consoles, the R4 Cards M3 DS can are afflicted with lots of malfunctions and issues if misused. These types of symptoms may include lines throughout the sport display in the course of play, audio concerns, frequent sport freezes, problems with wi-fi R4 DS connectivity and multiplayer game play or a faulty touchscreen display. These issues can stem from faulty sport cards resulting from grime buildup, sign interference or perhaps heavy impact that straight damaged your system. If the console R4 DSi set for fix, there are many troubleshooting actions you need to take.

[Links of London Charms]

As we all know, ;f Hoodies are so famous Links of London Charms It has been the top brand in the world. No matter Cheap Links of London of the fashion design, or the warmth rating,Links of London Friendship, both are quite perfect. Under this hedonism social morality,Links of London Friendship Bracelets, famous persons pay more attention to brand awareness. In many street snaps,, we always find that in winter, famous stars choose ;f Hoodies as their necessary article. Wherever they go,Links of London Pendants, as long as they go out of the door, they will put on a ;f jacket. ;f Hoodies have become silent representative of noble and unique quality for famous stars. Owning one ;f Hoodies in the cold winter, not only represents that you are rich, quite different with other poor people, but also represents that you are Links of London Charms uk in the fashion circle. Only for fashion, many people thought they deserve to keep one ;f jacket. As a moncler Hoodies fan, once I was also discount Links of London Charmslooking forward to owning one jacket. I hope in the cold winter, I will not be afraid of coldness any more and can spend a happy time outside. Fortunately, easy and convenient network age realized my dream.

[ugg boots clearance]

Then Eöl looked into the eyes of King Turgon, and he was not daunted, but stood long without word or movement while a still silence fell upon the hall; and Aredhel was afraid, knowing that he was perilous. Suddenly, swift as serpent, he seized a javelin that he held hid beneath his cloak and cast it at Maeglin, crying:
'The second choice I take and for my son also! You shall not hold what is mine!'
But Aredhel sprang before the dart, and it smote her in the shoulder; and Eöl was overborne by many and set in bonds, and led away, while others tended Aredhel. But Maeglin looking upon his father was silent.
It was appointed that Eöl should be brought on the next day to the King's judgement; and Aredhel and Idril moved Turgon to mercy. But in the evening Aredhel sickened, though the wound had seemed little, and she fell into the darkness, and in the night she died; for the point of the Javelin was poisoned, though none knew it until too late.
Therefore when Eöl was brought before Turgon he found no mercy; and they led him forth to the ugg boots clearanceCaragdûr, a precipice of black rock upon the north side of the hill of Gondolin, there to cast him down from the sheer walls of the city. And Maeglin stood by and said nothing; but at the last Eöl cried out: 'So you forsake your father and his kin, ill-gotten son! Here shall you fail of all your hopes, and here may you yet die the same death as I.'

[nibbler]

Thanks for writing this blog post, it was informative, enjoyable, and most importantly - a good length!

[ugg boots clearance]

"1 said what about the cycle?"

[white iphone 4]

Salut, où avez-vous obtenu cette information peut vous s'il vous pla?t appuyer ce avec une certaine preuve ou vous pouvez dire quelques bonnes références que moi et d'autres apprécieront vraiment. Cette information est vraiment bon et je vais dire sera toujours utile si nous essayer sans risques. Donc, si vous pouvez le sauvegarder. Cela nous aidera vraiment à tous. Et cela pourrait apporter un peu de bonne réputation pour vous.

[win 7]

With Office 2010 , you have power to review and do minor editing on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Office 2010 documents, to all intents and purposes anywhere, by using Office Web Apps from more locations on greater quantity devices. So you stay productive while up~ the go.Download Office 2010.Microsoft Win 7 ,Usually, advertisements from companies aren't reported on unless they are really cheeky or bring a message that really causes a stir, but this Windows 7 Home Premium + Windows Live ad is one of the best from Microsoft.MS Office 2007 helps you keep your e-post, tasks, and commitments more organized with the new To-Do Bar. * Make mind of spreadsheet data in a flash. New data visualization capabilities in Office 2007 improve you quickly make sense of your data using rich data visualization tools.

[wholesale knockoff handbags]

how can I post a comment?

[hip hop]

güncel hiphop
haberleri vee rap haberlreri kaçırmayın ....
ayrıca underground gibi dünyadanhiphop gibi ve overground

haberlerde bizde .... :)

[iphone covers]

récapitulation des Grands, je ne peux même pas croire que vous avez pu écrire that.I eu tant d'inquiétude en train de regarder cela et je pensais que j'étais le seul qui avait la rage contre nature / haine pour Kelly, heureux je ne suis pas le seul, comme je me concerne. Ces femmes montrent que vous pouvez l'age sans m?rir.

[thomas sabo]

NO NO you’re doing wrong!It’s ‘Slinging crack rock “OR” you gotta wicked jump shot’

[冷夜]

Em..
It would be foolish and wrong to let partisan politics bring this era of cooperation to an end. Worse, it would make us blind to the true size and capabilities of the Russian arsenal. There is no question this would weaken our national security. That would be indefensible.
hahah

[Cheap Watch Shop]

Thank you for the great post! I wouldn’t have gotten this by myself!

[米雕]

WRITE ON RICE-可爱米雕！，为您提供最好的米上刻字工艺。我们集米雕的零购，批发和加盟。为您提供优质，精美的米雕礼品和可靠的米雕创业机会。我们特别推出的米雕套餐，非常适合想低投入，高收益的用户，性价比极高。米雕(米上刻字）加盟请选择我们,点击什么是米雕。
LEARN write on rice

[knockoff handbags,wholoesale replica handbags]

Thanks for a great time visiting your site.

[Cosplay Wigs]

This blog is certainly excellent. Excellent work. For this reason I enjoy of keeping returning to the weblog.

[Spy Watch]

very good.the post can let me learn a lot

[The best knockoff handbags]

Is this really the case?

[soccer cleats]

Thanks , I have just been looking for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered till now.

[havyar jeli]

The most important visual symbol of the unconscious in our hair can lead to serious health problems were told to use. Ontario Training and Research Hospital, Dermatology Specialist Dr. Genghis Cutler, "Women often applied to hair, hot tongs, tight binding, bun hair loss do, can lead to dilution, " he said.

[oakley sunglasses]

I very agree with your views from here.

[Replica handbags]

How many bags do you have ? now I have GM M40144, speedy 25 M41528, Diraitofuru PM M40352, Diraitofuru MM M40353, Neverful PM M40155, Neverful MM M40156, Neverful GM M40157, keepall 55 M41414, keepall 50 M41416 and my most lovely Artsy MM M40249.

[wholesale replica handbags]

That's all I can say. You most definitely have made this blog into something special.

[Nike Free]

I like your blog, It is very good！I am very happy to leave comment here for you! I hope you come to my site to see!Communicate with each other!

[Ralph Lauren Polo]

Such a good writing, or by I saw for the first time. I'm quite happy, you are a good writer.

[replica handbags]

thanks for sharing your article, i like it......

[Cheap Sandals]

Thirst after desert, not reward.
1

[Christian Louboutins]

If thou injure conscience, it will have its revenge on thee.

[Ed Hardy]

i agree with your views from here.

[Visvim]

Such a good writing, or by I saw for the first time. I'm quite happy, you are a good writer

[Asics Tiger]

Each man has his limitation.
7

[Jordan Max Fusion Shoes]

Don't spend time with someone who doesn't care spending it with you.

[Nike Air Max]

Within you I lose myself, without you I find myself wanting to be lost again.
3

[Cash loans]

Such a good writing, or by I saw for the first time. I'm quite happy, you are a good writer.

[Slava Ivanov]

Doors opened, and people came into the yard, making for the kitchen. I went along with them. cash advance loans

[CXHond]

You should take advantage of it.

[Cheap Oakleys]

I came to your article from another article and am really interested in this learning about this, I feel strongly about information and love learning more on this. If possible, as you gain expertise, It is extremely helpful for me. would you mind updating your blog with more information?

[movers las vegas]

I got to this blog from Facebook (one of my friends posted it). After reading, I of course clicked Like then shared it myseld. More power.

[knockoff handbags]

Thank you for your sharing.It's very helpful for me,It's so Great.

[Jadeite]

I came to your article from another article and am really interested in this learning about this, I feel strongly about information and love learning more on this. If possible, as you gain expertise, It is extremely helpful for me. would you mind updating your blog with more information?

[clip in hair extensions]

Congratulations to you and to Oren. Sounds like an ideal match; cant' wait to see what comes of it!

[UK payday loans]

Meanwhile, the conservative Heritage Foundation's grass-roots lobbying arm is targeting Republican senators with mailings warning that the treaty "benefits Russia's interests, not ours."

[Red Bottom Heels]

Despite all the life danger, with one selfless act from one common person, someone is saved, A hero is made. （Norman Stephens, USA writer）

[sohbet]

sohbet odalari sohbet sitesi

[knockoff handbags]

Great job! Keep working! useful post, thank you

[replica handbags]

Thank you so very much for taking the time to share…very useful, indeed!