The Senate on START
Last week, the Senate passed a resolution supporting our agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic to build missile defense shields in those countries. Although the Senate voted to cut funding for certain defense programs, lawmakers seem to be on board with protecting Central Europe, despite President Barack Obama’s obvious hedging.
Earlier this month, Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to set goals to reduce nuclear warheads as part of a plan to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). In a surprising revelation, the AP reports that the Senate would block spending for a new treaty that limits our missile defense capabilities. By a voice vote, the Senate approved a non-binding resolution that any agreement between the U.S. and Russia will not put limitations our “ballistic missile defense, space capabilities or advanced conventional weapons.”
Russia claims missile defense shields in Central Europe threaten its national security, while we maintain that those bases would protect the region from Iran. Our president clearly doesn’t support the bases, but the Senate does. Obama and Medvedev have agreed to meet sometime in September to resume START negotiations. How much room does Obama have to strike a deal?
Ariel Cohen of the Heritage Foundation said, “There are chances of ratification, provided the administration does not capitulate” on bases on Central Europe.
Tags: Barack Obama, Czech Republic, Dmitry Medvedev, Iran, Poland, Russia, Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty