"Arms treaty would withstand Russian cheating, Pentagon says" by Robert Burns, Associated Press | July 21, 2010
WASHINGTON — Even large-scale Russian cheating on a new nuclear arms treaty would not hurt US security because American nuclear superiority would more than offset any Russian actions, the Obama administration has concluded.
Aren't we supposed to be getting rid of them?
James Miller, the Pentagon’s leading authority on nuclear arms, outlined yesterday for the Senate Armed Services Committee how the administration came to this conclusion.
He was challenged by Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who asked in an incredulous tone why the administration bothered to negotiate a deal if cheating is of no consequence....
That's a good question.
The ability to verify compliance with the treaty is a key point of debate as the Senate considers whether to ratify the deal, which was signed in April by President Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev. Both governments hailed it as a breakthrough in US-Russian relations and a step toward making the world safer.
Related: Getting Real With Russia
More political and MSM hot air, huh?
It requires approval by the legislatures of both nations; the Russian Duma is waiting for the US Senate to act first.
You have time to go take lunch, see a film, have a smoke, down a drink....
Prospects for ratification are considered strong for the treaty, which has drawn wide bipartisan support among think-tank analysts and former top-ranking officials. But Senate approval might not happen until this fall.
Miller told the committee that the size and structure of the US arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons — a triad of submarines, bomber aircraft, and land-based launchers — provide assurance that any Russian cheating would have little military significance....
Yeah, turns out they can pull out at any time.
Miller added that he does not believe Russian cheating is likely....
But you know those Russians!
They just got busted spying on us!
That's the cheat; here is the retreat:
"Russia’s security agency gains powers" by Associated Press | July 20, 2010
MOSCOW — The upper house of Russia’s Parliament passed a bill yesterday granting expanded powers to the country’s main security agency, a move that critics say echoes the era of the Soviet KGB.
Sort of like a Russian PATRIOT ACT, huh?
Did they create a Department of Homeland Security?
The bill, which goes to President Dmitry Medvedev to be signed into law, would allow the Federal Security Service to issue warnings to people suspected of preparing to commit crimes against Russia’s security.
Not jail 'em like here?
Human rights and democracy activists say this power could be used to intimidate government opponents and stifle protests.
“This law is targeted against the opposition . . . It’s a Draconian law which is unprecedented in the world and is reminiscent of our repressive past,’’ Boris Nemtsov, a leader of the opposition Solidarity movement, was quoted as saying by the news agency Interfax.
The security service is the main successor agency to the KGB. The bill was approved by the upper house by a vote of 121 to 1. The sole vote against was cast by the house’s speaker, Sergei Mironov, who said he was apprehensive about the measure.
Resembles any Zionist-pushed vote in the U.S. Congress, doesn't it?
Opposition groups frequently are denied permission to hold rallies or can hold them only in out-of-the-way neighborhoods.
Free speech zones?
Riot police often break up unsanctioned rally attempts.
They even do that to the sanctioned ones here.
How could you ever trust those Russians, Americans?
Especially with such an exemplary government of your own?
Where did AmeriKa come up with this stuff?
The Soviets?
Ooops.