I wonder if most folks know that a treaty, once ratified, becomes the full force of the Constitution...
1."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."
... Republican lawmakers voiced concern that that recognizing the "interrelationship" between offensive and defensive weapons could be seen as a way to limit US plans for a missile defense system in Europe." White House Contradicts Russian Duma Official on Linkage Between Missile Defense and START - Political Punch
2. "Well, someones wrong about START, and the Russians think its us. Usually, this kind of confusion gets resolved during treaty negotiations, not after one side has already ratified the pact and the other is about to do the same. Apparently, one or both sides brought negotiators who werent very good at negotiating.
This leaves us with very little assurance that Obama has not bargained away missile defense.
Here is the passage in the treaty that the Russians insist is a limitation on further development of missile defense, emphasis mine:
Recognizing the existence of the interrelationship between strategic offensive arms and strategic defensive arms, that this interrelationship will become more important as strategic nuclear arms are reduced, and that current strategic defensive arms do not undermine the viability and effectiveness of the strategic offensive arms of the Parties,..."
White House says Russians wrong about missile-defense limitations in START Hot Air
3. "For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--"
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2
1."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."
... Republican lawmakers voiced concern that that recognizing the "interrelationship" between offensive and defensive weapons could be seen as a way to limit US plans for a missile defense system in Europe." White House Contradicts Russian Duma Official on Linkage Between Missile Defense and START - Political Punch
2. "Well, someones wrong about START, and the Russians think its us. Usually, this kind of confusion gets resolved during treaty negotiations, not after one side has already ratified the pact and the other is about to do the same. Apparently, one or both sides brought negotiators who werent very good at negotiating.
This leaves us with very little assurance that Obama has not bargained away missile defense.
Here is the passage in the treaty that the Russians insist is a limitation on further development of missile defense, emphasis mine:
Recognizing the existence of the interrelationship between strategic offensive arms and strategic defensive arms, that this interrelationship will become more important as strategic nuclear arms are reduced, and that current strategic defensive arms do not undermine the viability and effectiveness of the strategic offensive arms of the Parties,..."
White House says Russians wrong about missile-defense limitations in START Hot Air
3. "For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--"
Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2
