Kingston Reif, the Deputy Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation [2], writes, “The approach of some vocal Republicans to the 'New START' negotiations goes something like this: Suggest a dozen different ways that a new arms control agreement with Russia could be detrimental to U.S. security without actually opposing a new arms control agreement with Russia.” A resolution proposed by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) is the latest in a long [3] list [4] of efforts on the part of some Republicans to define New START as bad for U.S. interests. Arguments include our ability to deter China and other would-be nuclear powers; to provide Congress with reports on both negotiations with Russia and China’s nuclear forces; to complete the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) before signing an agreement; and to ensure that a new agreement does not constrain U.S. missile defenses.
Links
[1] https://ploughshares.org/file/1370
[2] http://armscontrolcenter.org/
[3] http://nukesofhazardblog.com/story/2009/9/30/181133/392
[4] http://nukesofhazardblog.com/story/2009/7/27/17193/3821
[5] http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/12/08/enemy-du-jour-china/
[6] http://www.ploughshares.org/expert/222
[7] http://www.armscontrolwonk.com
[8] http://web.archive.org/web/20050213100128/http:/japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-se0172.html
[9] http://nukesofhazardblog.com/story/2009/12/8/133458/489