Posted on The Heritage Foundation-On May 21, 2011:
“Recently, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Russia might withdraw from New START—the strategic arms control agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States that entered into force on February 4—if the United States does not provide Moscow with a legally binding guarantee that the European Phased Adaptive Approach (the Obama Administration’s plan for protection of Europe) will not be targeted against Russia.
This is probably not what Lieutenant General Patrick O’Reilly, director of the Missile Defense Agency, had in mindwhen he testified about New START before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: “There are no limitations in the treaty that affect our plans for developing missile defense,” he said. Indeed, Heritage’s research revealed numerous practical limitations of the U.S. missile defense options, including test target missiles and the conversion of ICBM silos into missile defense launchers.
The Russian approach defies logic. The missile defense system in Europe would intercept and destroy ballistic missiles already launched toward its victims. If the Russians believe that U.S. and allied operation of a missile defense system will pose a threat to them, they likely think they need to threaten both with a missile attack. If this is the basis of Russian thinking, then this negotiation is about anything but cooperation.
Additionally, the Russian Duma’s New START ratification law contains provisions that are diametrically opposed to those adopted by the United States. The Senate’s resolution of ratification states that the treaty imposes no limits on missile defense deployments (outside a narrow provision in Article V) and that the language on missile defense in the treaty’s preamble is not legally binding. It is clear that there is no meeting of the minds on missile defense between the parties to this treaty.
The treaty is clearly becoming another means to escalate the tension between the two countries, emphasize the differences between their strategic postures, restrict U.S. ballistic missile defense plans, and prevent further cooperation. The Russian bellicose statements do not give much hope for a “reset” in the relationship.
It is also essential not to buckle to Russian demands for operational control of the missile defense system. Any agreement to do so would only perpetuate U.S. and allied vulnerability to missile attack, because it appears that the Russians are making this demand in order to block effective operation of the system, not to enhance cooperative missile defense capabilities.
Genuine cooperation in the realm of missile defense is about the United States, its allies, and Russia standing together to oppose aggression by rogue states through the use of ballistic missiles.”
Source:
Note: The following article and/or blog post relates to this disturbing issue-You Decide:
Top 10 Obama Foreign Policy Flubs!-Posted on Human Events-By Human Events-On May 21, 2011:
“Barack Obama brought to the presidency the foreign policy experience of a community organizer, that is to say, none. And it shows. If there is such a thing as an Obama Doctrine, it might be this: React slowly to a foreign crisis and, in a conflict, pick a side hostile to U.S. interests. Here are the Top 10 Obama Foreign Policy Flubs:
1. Libya: NATO’s Obama-backed Libyan excursion is entering its third month with no end in sight, as Muammar Gaddafi and the ill-trained and ill-equipped rebel forces battle to a stalemate. Without the U.S. taking the dominant military lead, NATO’s feeble effort is exposing a shocking weakness in the military alliance. And Obama still hasn’t explained why Gaddafi’s troops shooting into crowds warrants retribution, while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can do the same with impunity. What an ill-conceived effort, with no real leadership and no clear goals.
2. Iran: In 2009, when Tehran protesters looked to Washington for help, Obama offered little support as he held on to the dream that his magical words could sway Iran’s Islamist leaders. His naive stance snubbed the masses of people hoping for democratic reform while ensuring that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will continue his march to make Iran a nuclear power.
3. Egypt: First, Vice President Joe Biden says longtime U.S. ally Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is not a dictator, then the administration calls for him to step aside. By withdrawing support for Mubarak, Obama sent shock waves to other U.S. allies in the Middle East—including oil-rich Saudi Arabia and Bahrain—and gave an opening for the Muslim Brotherhood to rise to power.
4. The Dollar: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s policy of qualitative easing is eroding the dollar while encouraging inflation. International holders of U.S. dollars are not pleased to see the drop, spurring talk of a different currency to dominate the world’s financial system. Along with the Obama deficits, America’s creditworthiness is in question.
5. Israel: Obama’s speech seeking a return to Israel’s 1967 borders undercut America’s only reliable ally in the region. His attempt to broker any kind of accord between Israel and the Palestinians is in disarray. His special envoy George Mitchell just resigned and Israel is rightfully concerned with Obama’s hard-line on Israeli borders and his fondness for the Arab world. And with the “Arab Spring” possibly sweeping Islamists into power, Israel will be further isolated in the region.
6. Global organizations: By ceding power to the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and other international organizations, Obama is undermining America’s sovereignty. The Libyan military action is a case in point, approved by the UN and not by Congress. And with the IMF funneling billions of U.S. tax dollars to bail out debt-ridden countries, one wonders if the idea of a One World Government is becoming a reality.
7. Brazil oil: It was bad enough when Obama pulled the plug on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. But after oil companies sent their drilling rigs to Brazil, Obama said, “We want to be one of your best customers,” and announced plans to lend billions to the state-owned oil company to drill off the coast of Brazil. Memo to President Obama: There are plenty of oil resources in the United States that, if tapped, could create jobs and lessen dependence on foreign oil.
8. Pakistan: This supposed U.S. ally has consistently undermined U.S. anti-terror efforts, as its intelligence service seemingly is supportive of anti-American jihadists. Pakistan either allowed safe harbor for Osama bin Laden or was totally incompetent despite billions of dollars of U.S. aid. The mixed signals from the Obama administration following the Osama bin Laden raid only further damaged the relationship with Pakistan.
9. Russia: Obama’s clumsy attempt to push the reset button with Russia had the U.S. making concessions on missile defense and nuclear arms without gaining anything in return. Instead of moving closer to the U.S., Russia is aligning with China, Brazil, India and other developing nations on key issues.
10. Apologizing: Obama’s apology tour shortly after taking office sent the message that he didn’t really think all that highly about America. Not only wasn’t America exceptional, but it was guilty of heinous offenses. No thank you, Mr. President, for your apologies. As Memorial Day approaches and we honor those who died for our country, we can be proud of the causes they served.”
Source:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=43631
Note: What follows is an article and/or blog post that contains a WikiLeaks Cabel that reveals that the U.S. secretly agreed to give Russians sensitive information on Britain’s nuclear deterrent to persuade them to sign key treaty, which I believe relates to this issue-You Decide:
WikiLeaks cables: US agrees to tell Russia Britain’s nuclear secrets. ‘The US secretly agreed to give the Russians sensitive information on Britain’s nuclear deterrent to persuade them to sign a key treaty’-Posted on The Daily Telegraph-By Matthew Moore, Gordon Rayner and Christopher Hope-On February 4, 2011:
Note: My following blog posts contain numerous articles and/or blog posts and videos that relate to this disturbing issue-You Decide:
Will The New START Undermine Our Nuclear Security?
http://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/will-the-new-start-undermine-our-nuclear-security/
National Security Shouldn’t Be For Sale!
http://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/national-security-shouldn’t-be-for-sale/
Nuclear Summit Part of Obama Administration’s ‘Fantasy Foreign Policy’:
Nearly 80 percent don’t trust the government!
http://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/nearly-80-percent-don’t-trust-the-government/
Note: If you have a problem viewing any of the listed blog posts, please copy web site and paste it on your browser. Sure seems like any subject matter that may be considered controversial is being censored-what happened to free speech?-You Decide.
“Food For Thought”
“God Bless & Keep Our USA Safe”
Semper Fi!
Jake
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