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

[CHIMO]

Source: guardian.co.uk

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.



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

[sally cat]

1. I thought this was going to be about Iran going full speed ahead with it's nuclear program.

[Roma]

2. Wonderful ambition but that paste

has been squeezed from the tube.

We would have just as much luck un-inventing the long bow and gunpowder.

[CLANG]

7. Just as much as killing DADT in the next session.

[No Elephants]

3. Gotta love slanted "news."

"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."


When did 59 (or even 58, if you drop LIEberman) become a thin majority in the context of the U.S. Senate? Whenever Democrats hold the majority?

[groundloop]

4. With the dumb-ass senate rules they may just as well have said "minority of 59"

[DallasNE]

5. Treaties Require 67 votes for passage n/t

[hollowdweller]

6. This will be terrible if it doesn't pass.

Russia and the US during Clinton was so nice. Then we had Bush and things got worse. The GOP was looking at re vamping the Cold War as a backup if their terror war didn't channel enough $$ to their clients. Then we had Obama and things started getting better again.

The republicans trade in fear and hatred of the other so much that the Dems have gotta pass this in the Lame Duck