Barack Obama's hopes for a nuclear-free world fading fast

[struggle4progress]

Two of the president's initiatives, on disarmament and relations with Russia, have been dealt a serious setback
Julian Borger, diplomatic editor
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 November 2010 20.36 GMT

Barack Obama's hopes of reshaping US foreign policy stand on the brink of failure tonight, after two of his most cherished initiatives — nuclear disarmament and better relations with Moscow — were dealt serious setbacks.

According to a leaked Nato document seen by the Guardian, a move to withdraw US tactical nuclear weapons from Europe has been omitted from the alliance's draft strategic doctrine, due to be adopted by a summit this weekend in Lisbon.

Meanwhile in Washington, a Republican leader in the Senate signalled that the nuclear arms control treaty Obama signed in April with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is unlikely be ratified this year. Most observers say that if the treaty – known as New Start – is delayed until next year, it will be as good as dead, as the Democratic majority in the Senate will be even thinner by then, following the party's losses in the midterm elections.

Together the setbacks mark a new low point for Obama's ambitions, set out in a landmark 2009 speech in Prague, to set the world on a path to abolition of nuclear weapons ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/16/barack-obama-nuclear-hopes-fading

[struggle4progress]

1. Key Republican wants START delayed (Roundup)

Nov 16, 2010, 20:47 GMT

Washington - A key US Senate Republican said Tuesday he was pushing to delay the ratification of a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia until next year, delivering a potential setback to President Barack Obama.

Senator Jon Kyl, who is taking the lead for Republicans in negotiating the treaty with the White House, said too many issues remained unresolved and that the Senate should not consider New START until a new session begins in January.

'When majority leader Harry Reid asked me if I thought the treaty could be considered in the lame duck session, I replied I did not think so, given the combination of other work Congress must do and the complex and unresolved issues related to START and modernization,' Kyl said in a statement.

The Obama administration had reportedly sought to alleviate Republican concerns by spending an additional 4 billion dollars for the modernization of nuclear forces. Republicans had resisted the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, partly over concerns that nuclear modernizing would be compromised ...

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1599491.php/Key-Republican-wants-START-delayed-Roundup

[Vincardog]

2. When are the New Dems / DLC going to learn how to negotiate?

[struggle4progress]

3. Perhaps you could try to stay on topic? Article is about Republican Kyl blocking START ratification