Has Russia Violated The New START Arms Treaty?

Tu-95MS at Engels Air Force Base. Wikipedia

False START -- Washington Free Beacon

Russian failure to notify U.S. of bomber exercises violated New START arms treaty

Recent incursions into U.S. air defense zones by Russian nuclear bombers earlier this month were part of exercises that violated provisions of the 2010 New START treaty, according to U.S. officials.

The treaty requires Russia and the United States to provide 14-day advance notification of major strategic exercises involving nuclear bombers covered by the treaty, and to provide notice within 48 hours after the exercises end.

State Department and Pentagon officials said the Russians failed to provide the proper notification for large-scale exercises held in late June in the arctic.

Read more ....

My Comment: With the exception of the Washington Free Beacon ..... why is no one reporting this story?

US-Russia Nuclear Arms Treaty Takes Effect Today

US-Russia New Start Nuclear Treaty Comes Into Effect -- BBC

The New Start nuclear arms treaty limiting the number of atomic warheads the US and Russia are allowed to possess, has come into effect.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exchanged ratification documents at a conference in Munich.

The treaty replaces the 1991 Start treaty which expired in December 2009.

It was approved by the US Senate in December and by the Russian parliament last month.

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More News On The START Treaty

US-Russia nuclear arms treaty takes effect -- Yahoo News/AP
U.S. and Russia cap "reset" in ties with START treaty -- Reuters
US, Russia launch nuclear arms reduction pact -- AFP
Factbox: Main elements of the U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty -- Reuters

President Obama Signs The START Documents In Private

The treaty will formally come into force when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exchange the instruments of ratification in Munich on February 5. Reuters

Angering Press, Obama Signs Arms Treaty In Private -- Washington Times

The White House drew criticism Wednesday as President Obama privately signed into law a new arms control agreement with Russia with reporters barred from the historic event.

Still photographers were the only members of the press allowed in as Mr. Obama signed the treaty known as the New START, one of his top foreign policy priorities, alongside several top government officials, including Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sens. John Kerry and Richard G. Lugar.

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More News On President Obama Signing The START Documents

President Obama Signs START Treaty, Doesn't Allow Reporters in the Room -- ABC News
Obama Signs START Treaty in Relative Privacy -- FOX News
Obama Signs Nuclear Treaty -- Voice of America
Obama signs Russian nuclear arms treaty documents -- CNN
Obama signs New START treaty documents -- Reuters
Obama signs new nuclear deal with Russia -- AFP
Obama signs nuclear treaty documents Wednesday -- AP
U.S. and Russia to finalize nuclear deal on Saturday -- Reuters
FACTBOX-START treaty approval may bring inspections by April -- Reuters

Russia Finally Ratifies The New START Treaty

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and his US counterpart Barack Obama signed the New START treaty in the Czech capital, Prague, on April 8, 2010, following long negotiations. Press TV

START Clears Final Hurdle In Russia -- The Telegraph

A landmark US-Russia treaty committing both countries to sharply limit their nuclear arsenals has cleared its final hurdle in Russia.

The Russian upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, comfortably approved the text of the new treaty in a vote on Wednesday paving the way for it to be signed into law by President Dmitry Medvedev.

The treaty, known as the 'New START', is the centrepiece of President Barack Obama's much-hyped "reset" in relations with the Kremlin.

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More News On Russia Finalizing It's Approval Of The START Treaty

Russia's upper house ratifies New START -- AP
Russia Approves Arms Treaty -- New York Times
Russian parliament's upper house ratifies U.S.-Russia arms cuts deal -- RIA Novosti
Russian parliament approves arms pact with U.S. -- Reuters
Russia ratifies US nuclear disarmament treaty -- AFP
Russian Parliament Approves New Arms Control Treaty With US -- Aol News
Russia ratifies new START nuclear arms reduction treaty -- Global Post
NATO welcomes START ratification -- UPI

With Russian ratification of New START, what's next for US-Russia relations? -- Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor
Ratifying new START treaty amid mutual mistrust -- Ilya Kramnik, RIA Novosti

Russian Parliament Ratifies START Treaty With The U.S.

Russian State Duma ratifies new START treaty. © RIA Novosti. Ilya Pitalev

Russian State Duma Ratifies New START Treaty -- RIA Novsoti

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, ratified on Tuesday a new strategic arms reduction agreement with the United States.

Russian lawmakers approved the document, adding some provisions to the ratification document and issuing two supplementary statements to the resolution on ratification of the treaty.

The ratification document provides a legally-binding clause that links strategic offensive and strategic defensive weapons.

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More News On Russia's Parliament Approving The New START Treaty

Russian Duma Approves New START With US -- Voice of America
Landmark nuclear treaty passes Russia's lower house -- CNN
New START Clears Final Russian Duma Vote -- Global Security Newswire
Russian parliament ratifies arms pact with US -- AP
Russia's lower house ratifies US nuclear pact -- AFP
Obama hails new START ratification by Russian lower house -- RIA Novosti
Obama welcomes START ratification in Russia -- Voice of Russia

My Comment: With both sides congratulating and back-slapping each other on this ratification vote, senior Russian lawmakers have made it very clear that .... Russia may withdraw from new arms cuts pact any time.

More Countries At The Non-Proliferation Table?

Russia Says Next U.S. Arms Talks Must Include Others -- Wall Street Journal

MOSCOW—Russia said further cuts in nuclear weapons sought by the U.S. can be achieved only as part of a multinational accord limiting other types of armaments, a position that dims the Obama administration's chances for swift progress toward one of its biggest foreign policy goals.

Under conditions spelled out Thursday by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a new round of talks aimed at slashing Russia's large arsenal of short-range tactical nuclear weapons must involve other nuclear powers and focus as well on conventional warheads and weapons in space.

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My Comment: The Russians are (somewhat) making sense .... but I doubt that countries like China, India, Pakistan, Israel, etc. will jump in. As for further talks on reducing tactical weapons .... the Russians with their huge stockpile have no interest to pursue this for the moment because they have absolutely nothing to gain.

Update: Spencer Ackerman at the Danger Room agrees with my assessment.

Russia Declares It Has The Right To Withdraw From START Treaty If It Feels Threatened By West

State Duma. Photo: RIA Novosti

Russia Nears Arms Pact Approval, Warns On Pullout -- Yahoo News/Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia's parliament moved closer to approving a landmark arms reduction treaty with Washington Friday by amending domestic legislation to stress that Moscow could withdraw from the pact if it felt threatened by the West.

The amendments required for Russia to ratify the New START treaty do not change the pact itself and were introduced before the second of three ratification votes in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

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More News On Russia's Parliament Ratifying The Start Treaty

Russian parliament debates arms pact with US -- AP
Russian parliament moves closer to ratification of U.S.-Russian arms pact -- Canadian Press
Russian parliament prepares to ratify arms pact -- Washington Post/AP
Russian Parliament Panel Backs New START Ratification -- Global Security Newswire
Duma sets terms on Russia-U.S. arms deal ratification -- RIA Novosti
Duma puts forward its conditions for START ratification -- ITAR-TASS
Lavrov says much depends on START ratification -- Voice of Russia
A Cold War Treaty -- Alexander Golts, Moscow Times

Russian Parliament Links Missile Defense To START Limitations

White House Contradicts Russian Duma Official On Linkage Between Missile Defense And START -- ABC News

An official of the lower house of the Duma says that as it ratifies the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, START, the Russian parliament will reaffirm that the treaty limits U.S. plans for missile defense, contrary to the stated position of U.S. officials.

Asked for comment, White House spokesman Tommy Vietor tells ABC News, "The President sent a letter to the Senate on December 18th that said: ‘The New Start Treaty places no limitations on the development or deployment of our missile defense programs.' That remains the case."

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Update: Russian Lawmakers Begin Endorsing New START -- Global Security Newswire

My Comment: Hmmmm .... were the critics of the START Treaty right after all? Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has the best comments on this slow moving mess that much of the media is choosing to ignore right now.

With The Passage Of START, The Attention Is Now On The Details

US President Barack Obama, with Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev, delivers remarks during a bilateral meeting at the APEC summit in Singapore, 15 November 2009. Photo from Novinite

START Has Passed, But Tactical Arms Remain An Issue -- Washington Post

What to do about Russia's overwhelming advantage in tactical nuclear weapons was among several tough issues for the Obama administration that emerged from the Senate debate on the new nuclear treaty.

Although public opinion was not a factor in the New START debate - polls showed overwhelming support for the arms-reduction agreement - questions about President Obama's toughness when it comes to Moscow were repeatedly raised, previewing a guaranteed GOP issue in the 2012 election.

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My Comment: The key sentence in this Washington Post story is the following ....

Talking to reporters last week, a State Department official seemed to be trying to quell any expectation of quick progress on the issue of tactical weapons.

The White House is now admitting that they are unsure on what will be Russia's response to eliminating their tactical nuclear arsenal. Well .... if the Russian media is any barometer on Russian political opinion .... the bottom line is they see no reason why they should proceed with talks.

But my gut tells me that they will attend talks if Missile Defense is offered on the table. To get them to the table .... I would not be surprised if President Obama offers it to them.

Start Treaty Gets Preliminary Approval In The Russian Parliament

In a televised interview on Friday, Russian President Dmitri A. Medvedev praised President Obama for winning support for an arms treaty with Russia. Reuters

New START Treaty Gets Preliminary OK In Russia Parliament -- L.A. Times

After just a few hours of debate, the lower house of Russia's parliament on Friday gave overwhelming preliminary approval to the New START arms treaty with the United States. The vote set the stage for its likely easy approval in the new year.

Lawmakers in the State Duma voted 350-59 to approve the treaty on its first reading. Two more votes in the lower house, on the second and third readings, and balloting in the upper house were put off until January.

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More News On Russian Approval For The START Treaty

Russian parliament tentatively approves arms pact -- Yahoo News/AP
Russian parliament backs US nuclear treaty -- Yahoo News/AFP
Russia pushes toward approval of nuclear arms pact -- Yahoo News/Reuters
START gets initial approval in Russia -- CNN
Russia Gives Preliminary Approval to Nuclear Pact -- Voice of America
Russian MPs back Start US arms treaty on first reading -- BBC
Medvedev Praises Obama for Treaty -- New York Times
Russian president lauds U.S. passage of nuclear arms treaty -- CNN

My Comment: As expected, the media is portraying this as a political win for President Obama and a process that will insure better U.S. - Russian ties. But what has been ignored, are Russian objections to the additional terms that President Obama agreed to in order to get Republican Senate support. From where I am standing, this is not over yet.

U.S. Senate Approves The START Treaty

The White House scores another major lame-duck victory. CNN screengrab

US Senate Ratifies New Arms Treaty -- Voice of America

U.S. lawmakers have ratified a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, giving President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory.

The Senate Wednesday approved the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, also known as START, with a two-thirds majority vote.

The agreement replaces an expired accord, further limiting the number of nuclear weapons Russia and the United States can maintain. It also would also establish a joint system for verification.

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More News On the US Senate Voting For The START Treaty

Senate ratifies nuke pact, delivering win to Obama -- Yahoo News/AP
Senate ratifies nuclear arms treaty with Russia -- Yahoo News/Reuters
US Senate ratifies nuclear treaty with Russia -- Yahoo News/AFP
Senate Ratifies Nuclear-Arms Treaty -- Wall Street Journal
Senate passes New START treaty -- L.A. Times
Historic START treaty wins overwhelming Senate vote, 71-26 -- Miami Herald
Lame-Duck Senate Votes to Ratify START -- ABC News
US Senate votes to ratify New START arms treaty -- Boston.com
Senate OKs START arms-control deal -- Politico
Senate Approves Ratification of Russia Nuclear Treaty -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Senate approves nuclear arms pact -- CNN
The Senate passed New START. What's next? -- Robert Kagan, Washington Post

Final U.S. Senate Vote On The START Treaty Is Slated For Tonight Or Tomorrow.

New START Treaty Passes Key Senate Vote -- L.A. Times

The Senate votes to bring the nuclear-arms treaty with Russia to the floor for a final vote. Eleven Republicans join with 56 Democrats to pass a cloture motion, 67-28.

The strategic nuclear arms treaty passed a key procedural hurdle on Tuesday when the Senate voted to bring the weapons pact between the United States and Russia to the floor of the Senate for a final vote.

The Senate voted 67-28 to pass a cloture motion, seemingly enough to assure final ratification. Eleven Republicans joined with 56 Democrats to pass the cloture motion.

Read more ....

More News On The START Treaty

Obama secures GOP votes for US-Russia nuclear pact -- Yahoo News/AP
START appears to have support for Senate passage -- Yahoo News/Reuters
START clears Senate hurdle -- Politico
Senate passes cloture vote on START 67-28, final vote expected Wednesday -- New York Post
Senate Advances Arms Treaty, 67-28 -- New York Times
Nuclear Pact Clears Senate Hurdle -- Wall Street Journal
US-Russia nuclear treaty on the cards after Senate vote -- The Guardian
Senate Clears Way for Final Approval of Russia Treaty -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Obama wins: Senate agrees 67-28 to take up START treaty -- Miami Herald
Senate moves to a full vote on New START treaty -- Boston.com
What is the New START treaty? -- Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post

No Ban On Strategic Conventional Weapons In The New START Treaty

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, answers a questions during a a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec.17, 2010. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

U.S. Military Chiefs Opposed Russian Ban On Strategic Conventional Weapons -- Washington Times

The military's joint chiefs closely watched U.S.-Russian arms talks and rejected Moscow's call for banning new conventionally-armed long-range missiles in the START arms accord, but accepted some curbs, according to a letter from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman, outlined the opposition in a letter made public on Monday endorsing Senate ratification of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty now being debated in the Senate.

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My Comment: This opposition from the Chiefs is a clear sign that they now regard the `Prompt Global Strike` program as an essential component in their war planning against terrorism. For as long as I can remember, the need to have a weapon that can quickly target and strike any point on the globe has been on the wish list for many past Generals, intelligence agencies, and White House administrations. I guess this program will continue to develop .... and I would not be surprised if `Prompt Global Strike` becomes operational in some distant future.

U.S. Senate Will Vote Today On Ratifying The START Treaty

US President Barack Obama, with Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev

Obama Aides Confident About START Treaty -- USA Today

The White House is exuding confidence heading into a key Senate vote today on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.

Senate Democrats will seek to cut off debate today on the treaty, clearing the way for a final vote on START amid Republican criticism that it could undercut U.S. missile defense efforts.

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More News On Today's U.S. Senate Vote On The Start Treaty

No. 3 Senate Republican to back arms treaty -- YahooNnews/AP
Support builds for approval of U.S.-Russia nuke pact -- MSNBC/AP
Senate's Number-Three Republican Announces Support for START -- ABC News
More Support for Arms Control Treaty -- New York Times
Senate nears key vote on START accord -- CNN
No. 3 Senate Republican to back arms treaty -- Bloomberg
Democrats Confident They'll Ratify START -- NPR
Sniping with McConnell over START -- Washington Post
Nuclear Pact Adds Backers -- Wall Street Journal
Partisan bickering over START -- Politico
Senate vote on nuclear treaty may be defining moment for Obama -- L.A. Times

My Comment: If there is a vote today on the START treaty .... which appears to be the case .... this tells me that the Democrats have counted the votes, and are now confident of passage.

U.S. Senate Vote On START Treaty Planned For Tomorrow

Obama Goes Down To The Wire With START -- USA Today

It looks like the proposed arms cut deal with Russia is going down to the wire.

It's no surprise that top Senate Republicans Mitch McConnell and Jon Kyl vowed this weekend to oppose the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia; but even a potentially supportive Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, expressed reservations about START.

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More News On The Debate In The U.S. Senate On The START Treaty

Obama pushes for arms pact as top Dem upbeat -- Yahoo News/AP
Democrats to hold Tuesday vote on START nuclear pact -- Yahoo News/AFP
Russia warns U.S. not to change nuclear pact: Ifax -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Durbin Says Senate Has 67 Votes to Ratify Arms Treaty as McConnell Balks -- Bloomberg
Dems getting closer on START -- Politico
START loses key GOP support -- Washington Times
McConnell, Graham Will Oppose START -- Talk Radio News Service
Graham Announces Opposition to START Treaty -- CBS News
Senate GOP's McConnell says he'll vote against New START -- Washington Post
Is START stuck? -- Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post

U.S. Senate Debate On START Treaty Continues With Both Sides Hardening Their Positions

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he would vote against the arms control treaty with Russia. Drew Angerer/The New York Times

Republicans Stiffen Opposition To Nuclear Treaty With Russia -- L.A. Times

They insist there are too many questions and too little time left in this Congress to OK the arms pact.

Reporting from Washington — Senate Republican leaders on Sunday took their most aggressive stance yet against a proposed arms-control treaty with Russia, casting new doubts over its chances of approval during the remaining days of the current Congress.

The top two GOP members of the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said they oppose ratification of New START treaty, which requires two-thirds of the Senate — 67 votes — to pass.

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More News On The U.S. Senate Debate on The START Treaty

Senate Rejects Treaty Changes as McConnell Hardens Stance -- New York Times
Republican Amendment to START Accord Fails Senate; Debate Continues -- FOX News
McConnell leads GOP counter-attack against START pact -- CNN
Senate Dems Shoot Down Another GOP Amendment; Closed Session Coming on Monday -- ABC News
Negotiations on START deal (UPDATED) -- Politico
Democrats push to ratify Russia nuclear pact -- AFP
Democrats Confident New START Will Pass -- The Atlantic
Democrats Predict Senate Will Ratify New START Treaty -- Wall Street Journal
Dems getting closer on START -- Politico
START struggling to get to finish line -- Politico
US-Russian nuclear treaty on verge of collapse -- The Guardian

Debate On The START Treaty Is Getting Testy

START Treaty Debate Testy -- UPI

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Senators hunkered down Thursday for what promised to be a long debate before considering whether to ratify the new U.S.-Russian nuclear arms treaty.

Opponents to the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty said they feared it could limit U.S. missile defense, did not include tactical weapons and the agreement was tilted more favorably toward Russia.

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More News On the START Treaty

Military leaders dispute GOP on arms control pact -- Yahoo News/AP
Gates: New START Treaty Accommodates U.S. Plans -- U.S. Department of Defense
Chambliss, others in Senate give rocky start to START treaty debate -- AJC
GOP holds off on amendments as Senate debates START treaty -- Washington Post
Reid Says Senate Will Overcome Republican Delays on Arms Treaty -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Winning Votes for New START, $1 Billion At a Time -- Time Magazine
Elements of the New START treaty at a glance -- Washington Post

My Comment: Supporters of this treaty are now in a rush to get it pass. Rush .... rush .... rush .... everyone is now in a hurry. Sighhh .... such procedural tactics rarely succeed, and I doubt that this one will even come close.

U.S. Senate Begins Debate On Ratifying The Start Treaty

Senator John McCain of Arizona, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was one of nine Republicans to vote to open debate on the New Start treaty. Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

START Gets 66 Votes To Begin Senate Debate -- Wall Street Journal

President Barack Obama’s New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia snagged 66 votes on a procedural motion to bring it formally to a Senate debate, just one short of the number needed for passage.

But at least eight Republican senators – including some the White House was counting on – said this afternoon they did not want a vote on ratification this year, setting a sharp dividing line that some Republicans will have to cross if the treaty is to be approved.

Read more ....

More News On The START Treaty

Senate kicks off debate over US-Russia arms treaty -- Yahoo News/AP
Senate votes to begin consideration of START treaty -- Yahoo News/Reuters
US Senate votes to take up Russia treaty -- Yahoo News/AFP
Senate votes to open debate on New START -- Washington Post
‘New Start’ Treaty Advances in Senate -- The Caucus/New York Times
US Senate votes to begin debate on new Start treaty -- BBC
US Senate Begins Debate on Nuclear Pact with Russia -- Voice of America
Senate agrees to take up New START treaty -- L.A. Times
Senate Votes to Debate Nuclear Treaty With Russia -- Bloomberg
Chambliss, others in Senate give rocky start to START treaty debate -- AJC
Jim DeMint backs down on demand to read START -- Politico
START stopped? -- Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post

My Comment: The votes are not there. As I had preicted yesterday, of the 9 Republican senators who supported having a debate on the START Treaty, only 4 (maybe 5) are committed to supporting the treaty. In short .... there is not enough Republican support for this treaty to be ratified in this session.

Debate To Start By The U.S. Senate To Pass The START Treaty

The results of November's elections to Congress, which saw the Republicans make big gains at the expense of the Democrats, mean that President Barack Obama has until January, when the new Congressmen take up their positions, to try to push the treaty through. © RIA Novosti. Igor Mikhalev

Reid, Senate Dems Plan To Move START Arms Treaty As Soon As Wednesday -- The Hill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring the New START Treaty to the floor as soon as Wednesday and is confident he can secure 67 votes to ratify it.

“We could get to the START Treaty as soon as tomorrow,” said Jim Manley, Reid’s spokesman. “I believe there are the votes to ratify the treaty.”

Ratification of START would be a major victory for President Obama, who has pushed it as one of his highest priorities since the midterm election.

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More News On The U.S. Senate Trying To Pass The START Treaty

Senate decides to take up START treaty -- Washington Post
Senate working on ratification of U.S.-Russian strategic arms treaty - White House -- RIA Novosti
Senate to begin treaty debate on START as soon as Wednesday -- CNN
Senate taking up debate on arms treaty with Russia -- L.A. Times
US Democrats ready to push ahead with START treaty -- Reuters
Senate to push ahead on US-Russia nuclear treaty -- AP
US Senate to open START debate -- AFP
Reid Says Senate Has Votes to Ratify Russia Treaty -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Democrats still optimistic about START -- Politico
Kyl 'will work very hard' to kill START this year -- MSNBC
Missile defense looms over START ratification -- Washington Post

My Comment: I do not see the Republican votes there. With the exception of Republican Senators Richard Lugar, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe .... the votes are just not there.

But then again .... I do not work in the U.S. Senate.

Russian Positioning Of Short Range Nuclear Missiles Raises Concerns In Europe And Washington

Russian Missiles Fuel U.S. Worries -- Wall Street Journal

The U.S. believes Russia has moved short-range tactical nuclear warheads to facilities near North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies as recently as this spring, U.S. officials say, adding to questions in Congress about Russian compliance with long-standing pledges ahead of a possible vote on a new arms-control treaty.

U.S. officials say the movement of warheads to facilities bordering NATO allies appeared to run counter to pledges made by Moscow starting in 1991 to pull tactical nuclear weapons back from frontier posts and to reduce their numbers. The U.S. has long voiced concerns about Russia's lack of transparency when it comes to its arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, believed to be many times the number possessed by the U.S.

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My Comment: When I read stories like this one, I can sympathize with those U.S. Senators who are uncomfortable with verifying the new START treaty. As to what is my take .... being Russian by nationality and familiar with the Moscow mindset, I can concur that we should be cautious .... after all .... the Russian Government is being cautious to the extreme.