The “No New START In The Lame Duck” Consensus

Conn Carroll / November 16, 2010

SALT I negotiator, START delegate-at-large, Conventional Armed Forces in Europe treaty chief negotiator, and former CIA Director R. James Woolsey in The Wall Street Journal:

A number of years negotiating arms-control agreements with the Soviets taught me that, when dealing with Russian counterparts, don’t appear eager—friendly yes, eager never. Regrettably, the Obama administration seems to have become eager for a deal in its negotiations on the follow-on treaty to the recently expired Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start). Hopes for a boost in efforts to “reset” relations with Russia, and for progress toward the president’s dream of a world without nuclear weapons, apparently combined to trump prudent negotiating strategy. As a result, concessions to Russian demands make it difficult to support Senate approval of the new treaty, known as New Start, as it currently stands. (more…)