Is the Senate likely to consent to the ratification of New START? It might appear so now, but things can change. At the moment, it appears that approval will turn on whether the Obama Administration’s commitment to modernizing the nuclear weapons infrastructure is adequate in the eyes of the Senate and will be sustained after ratification. While even here things are uncertain, it is possible that the Obama Administration will do enough to satisfy the Senate, even if in reality the modernization plan will not result in a sustained program.
It is all but certain, however, that the approval process in the Senate will not stay on its currently projected path. Problems with the Treaty continue to emerge. These include, for example, the possible exclusion of rail-mobile ICBMs from coverage under the Treaty’s launcher limits, the lack of a proper definition of air-launched ICBMs under the counting rules and the fact that the U.S. and Russia have failed to agree on the matter of limitations on the U.S. missile defense program. A failure by the Administration to resolve these and potentially other problems should result in the Senate demanding access, in classified form, to the Treaty’s negotiating record. What the Administration gave to the Russians “under the table” at the negotiations is a legitimate Senate concern. Finally, it is not at all inconceivable that Senate action on this Treaty will be pushed off until after the election and political circumstances in the Senate may change.
Further, all Americans concerned about keeping the nation safe need to keep in mind the big picture. If a cohesive minority in the Senate can effectively challenge the Obama Administration on New START, even if the Treaty is ultimately approved by the Senate, the rest of the Obama Administration’s arms control agenda will be subject to more serious scrutiny. This is as it should be because this agenda includes a follow-on to New START, Senate consent to the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (ignoring the fact that the Senate already rejected this Treaty in 1999), a Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) Treaty and its deceptive companion, a “code of conduct” for space.
Congress and Obama's foremost duty is to secure our nation through its military strength. They don't represent America's best interests by yielding U.S offensive and defensive capabilities. It's like Obama telling a questionable street character they don't need their gun because he himself is not armed. Does the word naivety come to mind? The problem is it's not only Obama's hide that's vulnerable but the entire nation's. And Dmitry Medvedev is very aware of this fact. So why not use Obama's weakness to his own and Russia's greatest advantage.
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It's no myth that our constitution forbids anyone that is known to have not been born on American soil with a legal birth certificate to hold the office of President. Wallah! Obama comes on the scene and is allowed to seal ALL documents that would put his birthrights to rest and is allowed to get by with it. It is known that Obama has spent millions of dollars to keep this information from the public. this feat could not have been done at any cost without the help of present government.I have a YouTube presentations that I've copied onto a CD that displays Obama admitting his religion is Muslim. Is it any wonder that Obama feels the need to apologize to the world for America and it's people.
The important question that urgently begs to be addressed is, why hasn't our present Politicians intervened and simply demanded that the documents be displayed to the public to settle the question once and for all?
I ask you, does Obama's actions in this matter tell us that if he has nothing to hide, we should demand that the documents be forthcoming?
Lee Silen
US Army, Retired
And I am and American Patriot!