Posted on 12/20/2010 10:54:25 AM PST by balls
WASHINGTON — Russia warned the United States Senate on Monday not to rewrite the new arms control treaty being debated on Capitol Hill as American lawmakers clashed about the politics of ratification in the waning days of the Congressional session.
Republican critics of the treaty, known as New Start, offered more amendments to the treaty’s language on verification and launcher limits. But any change to the treaty text would require both countries to return to the negotiating table, and Moscow made it clear that senators had to accept the treaty or reject it as it is, without amendments.
“I can only underscore that the strategic nuclear arms treaty, worked out on the strict basis of parity, in our view fully answers to the national interests of Russia and the United States,” Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, told the Interfax news agency on Monday. “It cannot be opened up and become the subject of new negotiations.”
The Russian statement provoked a sharp response from the leading Republican treaty opponent, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona. “What’s wrong with that?” he asked of returning to the negotiating table to improve the treaty. “Unless you think the U.S. Constitution was really stupid to give the Senate a role in this, it doesn’t seem there’s anything wrong with the Senate saying, ‘You got about nine-tenths of it right.’ ”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Correction to my comment: Treaty not bill.
FUR. We’ll amend as we see fit.
I see fit to send the whole thing back to you ——unsigned.
Or they'll do what?
That statement should put all lawmakers on halt.
“It cannot be opened up and become the subject of new negotiations.”
Just fine....kill the bill
This bellicose threat should give Senators pause. Do not modify the treaty, or what, Vlad?
Would you rather follow Putin or Obama into battle?
The Soviets always favored democrats in our national elections. Obviously when we hear the call by the Russians to go in one direction, the opposite course of action is the correct one.
So, what’ll it be, Senators — the Russians have given you your marching orders... WSY?
I wouldn’t follow 0bama into K-Mart, much less battle.
And our leaders are cowering in the corner.
Senate should be giving an up or down vote on this.
Russia has not signed off on this. They had....but they withdrew their signature.
My questions is what is the “or else!” bit. Russia is very keen on this treaty being passed without any alteration, even to the supposedly non-binding preamble (if it is non-binding, then why fight for it to remain in the treaty?).
Puitn, at least has his nation’s interests at heart.
In the past, our national leaders would’ve stood tall and told the Soviets/Russians to piss off.
Now they just shiver, blow snot bubbles and wet their pants while the Russians laugh.
He sure does. Much unlike the POS we have "leading" us.
Bingo. Whatever else happens he supports Russia and for the most part the Russian people support him.
The occupier of our White House neither gives nor receives nor deserves the same respect.
Advantage: Russia.
Republican campaign ad. Plus it will get rid of the rinos.
Putin would wipe the floor with metrosexual Obama.
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