Go, rethugs! Screw up our relationship with Russia while you're at it!

[babylonsister]

:grr: Too bad the voters who voted for these assholes have no clue what they actually voted for. :grr:


U.S. Vote Could Derail Russia Ties

Pete Souza/White House, via European Pressphoto Agency

President Obama and President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia in Washington in June.
By PETER BAKER
Published: November 6, 2010



WASHINGTON — The Republican election victory last week was fueled by opposition to President Obama’s economic and domestic initiatives, but it could undo his central foreign policy achievement, his new partnership with Russia, and embolden anti-American hawks in Moscow.

In forging a friendlier relationship with the Kremlin after years of tension, Mr. Obama needs Congress to sign off on three major policy changes: an arms control treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals and resume inspections; a civilian nuclear agreement to permit greater cooperation; and a repeal of cold war-era trade restrictions so Russia can join the World Trade Organization.

Persuading Congress to approve any of those was already daunting when Democrats had control of both houses, but with Republicans taking over the House and bolstering forces in the Senate, all of these initiatives appear in jeopardy. If Mr. Obama cannot deliver on his promises, American officials and foreign policy specialists fear it will rupture the so-called reset policy and validate Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin and other hard-liners who have been skeptical of the rapprochement.

In the days since the election, Russian officials have already threatened to shelve the New Start arms control treaty. Mr. Obama has decided to make a concerted push to persuade the departing Senate to approve the treaty in a lame-duck session this month. The president brought it up last week, along with extending middle-class tax cuts, as his biggest priorities for the session.

“This is not a traditionally Democratic or Republican issue but rather an issue of American national security,” Mr. Obama said. “And I am hopeful that we can get that done before we leave and send a strong signal to Russia that we are serious about reducing nuclear arsenals, but also sending a signal to the world that we’re serious about nonproliferation.”

snip//

Within the administration, a nightmare scenario envisions even worse consequences. Russian leaders traditionally have looked for weakness in American counterparts, and Mr. Obama’s failure to impose his will on Congress would be seen as a sign of impotence. That could undercut President Dmitri A. Medvedev, who has made the improved relationship between Russia and the United States a centerpiece of his tenure despite Mr. Putin’s doubts. If the reset comes undone, some analysts suggested it would hurt Mr. Medvedev’s chances of persuading Mr. Putin to let him run for a second term in 2012. It could embolden those in the security establishment who want to keep close ties with Iran. By some estimates, Russia’s decision to go along with sanctions on Iran could cost as much as $13 billion in arms sales.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/world/europe/07policy.html?_r=1&ref=world

[jwirr]

1. Clearly this matters to us but I suspect to most of the idiots who

voted repug they still think we are enemies.

[Better Today]

2. I rec'd, however, if it is soooo important, then why didn't our majorities

in Congress get this passed long ago? This isn't new, it's been stalling even in the Democratically controlled House and Senate. It's easy to blame repugs, but first one should do a quick check in the mirror to and try to get the egg off one's face, this isn't a repug caused problem.

So why not go after Obama and Reid for not getting this done before and challenging them to get it done in the lame duck session?

[babylonsister]

3. Speaking of egg on your face, it's a work in progress and

work has been done on it...from April of this year...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4336198

Obama, Medvedev to sign arms treaty Thursday

[SunsetDreams]

4. I thought everyone knew that

K&R

[lumpy]

5. Some people don't bother to fucking read anything.

You can be damn sure the Repubs will not cooperating with anything Obama wants to accomplish. Latest is the Pubes want to start a row with Mayanmar(Burma).

[Baltoman991]

7. LMFAO!!!

Perhaps it is YOU who should check the mirror. Defending the right now are we? In your haste to once again slam Obama you failed to get your facts straight.

But hey, you're just like the rest of the slammers of Obama here. Post your bullshit without knowing what the fuck you're talking about.

[Better Today]

8. I'm not defending the right, but it isn't like the Dems are gettin' it done either.

So I'm condemning both, and defending neither.

[treestar]

10. It was less important than the economy most likely

there are 24 hours per day

[jillan]

6. This is the part that really burns my butt - it all rests on Kyl's decision...

The administration and its allies believe they have about a dozen Republican votes, enough to meet the two-thirds requirement for passage, if they can reach agreement with Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, who has been holding out in exchange for commitments to modernize the nuclear arsenal. Senate Republican aides said the treaty would pass as long as Mr. Kyl was satisfied.

[treestar]

9. Arrrrgh

This almost argues for a constitutional amendment to extend house terms to four years.

You just can't get enough done in two and everything will end up being a mess.