GOP utilizes missile security in technique to defeat NewSTART treaty

Missile protection is often an element of strategy among geopolitical rivals. However, Republicans within the United States of America Senate have managed to use missile security to undermine their own nation’s national security in pursuit of political points. The political games are being played over New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which was signed in April by President Obama and Russian President Dimitri Medvedev.

Russia/U.S. relations affected by NewSTART

Missile defense as it relates to the NewSTART treaty, which had bipartisan support until this week, is being used by certain Republicans as an opportunity for political posturing. The NewSTART treaty is seen as a critical element within the Obama administration’s efforts to improve national security and U.S./Russia relationships. It is very essential the NewSTART treaty go through by the U.S. Senate. Even U.S./Russia relationships haven't been hurt by the extradition of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the U.S. or the Russian spy scandal that occurred last year due to this. Next year, the democrats will lose six u.s. senate seats. This is the reason why Arizona Republican senator Job Kyl and 10 GOP senators are trying to delay the vote.

The GOP using the measures to START over

The NewSTART treaty reduces United States of America and Russian arsenals of strategic nuclear missiles and resumes on-the-ground inspections that ended when the old START treaty expired in 2009. Kyl and his new acolytes are saying that the Senate needs to start over because more money is needed for modernizing the arsenal that remains after the reductions. The point had already been brought up and addressed though. $4.1 billion was added for that. Some say that U.S. missile defense choices could be restricted because of the language used in the treaty.

All about the NewSTART

The number of missile defense systems the United States can build isn't listed in the NewSTART treaty at all. There is also no cutting requirement. United States existing systems can stay. The NewSTART treaty reduces restrictions on missile security according to Military Protection Agency chief General Patrick O'Reilly who said this in front of the Senate Armed Services committee in April. The old START treaty produced it impossible for the U.S. to test missiles that were to take out oncoming missiles. Now that is gone.

Info from

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/18/AR2010111800507_2.html

Media Matters

mediamatters.org/research/201011180003

The Hill

thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/129739-new-start-a-missile-defense-friendly-treaty