New START Treaty Reduces America’s Defense Capability

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, November 12, 2010
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. In April of this year, President Obama met with Russian officials in Prague and signed the New START treaty that hamstrings U.S. control over our own defenses. This is the treaty in a nut-shell. “Each Party [Russia and the U.S.] shall reduce and limit its strategic offensive arms in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty and shall carry out the other obligations set forth in this Treaty and its Protocol.”

But the president should’ve known better than to sign that agreement with Russia, because history proves Russia violates treaties. For example, Russia actually admitted to consistently cheating on the 1991 START I treaty right up until its expiration last December. Years before that, Russia admitted to cheating on the famous 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, that thankfully, President George W. Bush, finally, stopped applying to the United States.

Although they ALL know Russia cheats on treaties, Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson and four other Republican senators helped Democrats vote New START out of the Foreign Relations Committee on September 16th. That made it eligible for a vote in the full Senate, during this lame-duck session. If 67 senators vote for it, it’ll be ratified and, if it’s ratified, it will dictate the number of weapons the United States can keep and how many weapons the U.S. must destroy. Also, it would prohibit the U.S. from up-grading current weapons that are becoming obsolete.

But New START does NOT limit Russia’s massive stock-pile of tactical battlefield nuclear weapons. They can be launched from rockets, submarines and bomber planes and already outnumber U.S. tactical nukes by a ratio of 10 to 1. This treaty must be defeated. Please call Washington and ask for Senator Isakson’s office. Tell him to vote NO on the New START treaty, because it reduces America’s ability to defend the United States. Then, make another call and ask for Senator Chambliss’ office and give him the same message. The toll-free number in Washington for both of them is 1 877 851-6437. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.