Did Obama Sellout Britain To Russia On Sub Nukes? Nope, Says State Department

[Pirate Smile]

Did Obama Sellout Britain To Russia On Sub Nukes? Nope, Says State Department

Posted by Michael Scherer Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 4:08 pm
6 Comments • Related Topics: russia, special relationship, start treaty, united kingdom, wikileaks

Conservative blogs and the British press are agog over a report in London's Daily Telegraph that the U.S. provided certain information about the United Kingdom's submarine-based nuclear missile stockpile to Russia as part of recent arms negotiations. Matt Drudge nearly blew a siren on the "Secret Deal" report, which includes no quotes from either U.S. or British government sources confirming, denying or adding any context to the claim, which was apparently gleaned from a leaked document provided by Wikileaks.

As is their habit with just about any report about American-British relations, the Telegraph jumps to the conclusion that this revelation "sheds new light on the so-called 'special relationship,' which is shown often to be a one-sided affair." Perhaps the last part is true, but the U.S. State Department maintains that there is little news behind the breathless headlines. State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley emails TIME:

This is bunk. Under the 1991 START Treaty, the U.S. agreed to notify Russia of specific nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom, such as the transfer of SLBM's (submarine launch ballistic missiles) to the UK, or their maintenance or modernization. This is under an existing pattern of cooperation throughout that treaty and is expected to continue under New START. We simply carried forward and updated this notification procedure to the new treaty. There was no secret agreement and no compromise of the UK's independent nuclear deterrent.

Read more: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2011/02/05/did-obama-sellout-britain-to-russia-on-sub-nukes-nope-says-state-department/#ixzz1D7w4MMeK

I saw a bunch of folks here fall for this garbage as hard as the RW'ers did. I suppose that is because some people seem to want to believe the worst about President Obama and his Administration just like the Right Wingers. I really don't get that.

[jpak]

1. Nevermind

:D

[Pirate Smile]

3. I was waiting for something to come out. I assumed it was bullshit. Others always want to assume

the worst even when that puts them in league with the RW & Tea Baggers saying Obama is a Commie selling us all out to the Ruskies. I mean, really, people? Obama is going to give Britain's nuke secrets to the Russians why??? Because he is a Manchurian candidate trying to DESTROY THE COUNTRY!!!!

Use your friggin brains, please.

[treestar]

2. Exactly.

It's getting ridiculous. I take any claim as false until proven now.

It is interesting that there is so much to learn, and so many people who don't want to learn, but just want to find some excuse to be negative.

[Pirate Smile]

4. LOL - this can't even make it onto the Greatest Page.

edit to add - well, it made it there now. I'm just glad for the extra exposure.

[Jennicut]

13. Yup, me too. Always do your research first.

[struggle4progress]

5. (1) The Telegraph routinely misrepresents stories to produce controversy, so anything in

The Telegraph warrants a skeptical lookover: better still, just don't cite or link to The Telegraph

(2) Many many people have been breathlessly misrepresenting the contents of the US cables leaked by Wikileaks, so a claim that "Wikileaks shows &c&c" also warrants a rather skeptical lookover

[Pirate Smile]

6. Absolutely right.

:hi:

[Denzil_DC]

7. K&R

For a forum that supposedly prides itself on being routinely skeptical about anything mainstream and being "reality-based," it's ridiculous how often the spin of one of the most biased British newspapers, the Telegraph, is quoted when convenient. Thanks for posting this.

[vaberella]

12. I know what you mean. However WIKILEAKS is like the life blood of many.

If Wikileaks says it's true...it must be.

[Robb]

8. Credit where due, several very vocal WL supporters here saw through this.

Including people I've gone rounds with regarding Assange. Unseemly to name names, but you know who you are, and good on you. :toast:

[JI7]

9. i don't know how anyone could have believed that story

[Pirate Smile]

10. I know. I could not believe the number of people here who actually bought it.

[vaberella]

11. If you have a healthy dose of Obama dislike or expectations of failure...

It's very easy to believe.