Republicans expected to line up behind New START

Republicans expected to line up behind New START
AP

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer Anne Flaherty, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 24 mins ago


WASHINGTON – Despite near gridlock in the Senate, Republicans were expected to swing behind a new arms control treaty with Russia that President Barack Obama said they will like, even though some are reserving judgment until Obama can assure them the pact won't set back U.S. defenses against other potential foes such as North Korea and Iran.

Obama called the pact signed Thursday a fresh beginning with Russia and predicted the Senate will ratify the agreement by the end of the year.

"This ceremony is a testament to the truth that old adversaries can forge new partnerships," Obama said in Prague, where he stood grinning with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev following the signing of a treaty that would shrink the one-time rivals' arsenals to their lowest levels since the frightening arms race of the 1960s.

Obama returns to Washington on Friday.

The warheads covered by the treaty are lethal relics of the Cold War, and even with the planned reductions there will be enough firepower on each side to devastate the world many times over. Of more immediate concern are attempts by terrorist groups like al-Qaida and nations such as Iran and North Korea to acquire or use nuclear weapons.

The treaty requires approval by two-thirds of the Senate to take effect.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100409/ap_on_go_co/us_us_russia

Saint Reagan brokered the original START treaty. This one just improves on it. If they oppose it, they pretty much go against the same guy whose face they were trying to put on the $50 bill last week. I am really enjoying the thought of them all squirming over this.