Kerry's quacking: No lame-duck START

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Shoving through a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia during Congress' lame-duck session would endanger not only the future development of U.S. missile defenses but also the security of America and its allies.

Yet the quackery that is the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) could be sealed in the Senate in a floor vote, which is being pushed post-election by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sweetening the deal is the reported inclusion of $624 million for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

No matter how the treaty's couched, it's a raw deal for the U.S.

Contrary to the Obama administration's denials, New START would hobble U.S. missile defense. It specifically limits the conversion of some ballistic missile launchers into defensive interceptors, according to The Heritage Foundation. And Russia says it would abandon any treaty if the U.S. upgrades its missile defense systems.

Never mind weapon "verification," which has been notoriously problematic with Russia. This fool's bargain caps strategic nuclear warheads for "both" nations while allowing loopholes for Russia.

The only thing guaranteed by the New START is the return to a Cold War retaliation-based mindset. And transcending mutually assured destruction is today's increasing threat of current and future rogue-nation nukes.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 06774.html