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Europe backs nuclear START treaty, but U.S. Senate doubtful

European Support for New Nuclear Treaty More Certain than Senate Ratification Lincoln Tribune by Robert Raffaele on November 23, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama’s push for ratification of a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia by the end of the year faces an uncertain future. European leaders at the recent NATO summit in Portugal offered their support. But here in Washington, Mr. Obama faces resistance from opposition Republicans in the U.S. Senate.

The White House says the clock is ticking on America’s security.

“It is a national security imperative that the United States ratify the new START treaty this year,” said President Obama. “There is a no higher national security priority for the lame duck session of Congress. The stakes for American national security are clear and they are high.”

Several former U.S. secretaries of state and defense back Mr. Obama’s effort to finalize a new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia.

Current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also described the need in stark terms.

“For anyone to think that we can postpone it, or we can avoid it, is, I’m afraid, vastly underestimating the continuing threat that is posed to our country,” she said. …….

he European Union and Russia are urging the United States to ratify the new treaty, which replaces the 1991 START agreement that  expired in December.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

“A delayed ratification of the START treaty will be damaging to the overall security environment in Europe,” he said. “So we strongly urge both parties  to ratify the START treaty as early as possible.” ……http://lincolntribune.com/?p=1423

November 24, 2010 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | 2 WORLD, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons