Russia Is Violating The Spirit Of The START Treaty. The U.S. Continues With Nuclear Disarmament Talks

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev visits cosmodrome Plesetsk, which is nestled among the taiga forests of Russia's north, Oct. 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Russia Violating Treaty, Developing Missile -- Washington Times

Republicans in the Senate are gearing up to battle the Obama administration over the high-priority plan to finish a new arms-control treaty with Russia before the end of the year.

Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican and No. 2 Republican Senate leader, recently identified a key issue that is likely to complicate the administration's plan: Russia for years has been violating the current Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which is set to expire Dec. 5.

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My Comment: The Russians have already made it very clear that they are going to proceed with the installation of the RS-24 missile into their arsenal .... even with U.S. objections. If this is the case, it will be a clear violation of the spirit of START, and will put into question the purpose of what we are trying to accomplish with a new agreement.

I have been following U.S. - Soviet/Russian nuclear talks since the early 1980s, and this action on the part of the Russians is a clear violation of the treaty ..... but while this is my point of view, the White house and the State Department have a different interpretation of the treaty.

Sigh .... I know that I am right .... but it appears that the people who are deciding on the fate of our nuclear deterrent have a different point of view .... and are going to proceed with it regardless of objections and evidence that contradicts their positions.