Senate argues merits of nuclear treaty with Russia

[December 16, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama took a step toward a major foreign policy accomplishment as the Senate began debate on a U.S.-Russia nuclear pact.

The move by Senate Democrats to bring the New START treaty up for debate reflected confidence that they could deliver approval after it had appeared stalled for weeks.

Ratification of the treaty, along with a tax deal with Republicans that's nearing approval, would represent victories for Obama on his top foreign and domestic legislative priorities, just weeks after his Democratic Party suffered steep losses in congressional elections.

The White House and senior Democrats believe they can muster the two-thirds majority needed for ratification in the Senate. In a fresh sign of momentum, Democrats easily prevailed, 66-32, to move forward on the pact, winning the support of nine Republicans. Among the GOP senators was Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's 2008 presidential rival and a top lawmaker on national security issues.

Still, several Republicans led by Sen. Jon Kyl objected to considering the treaty in the waning days of Congress' lame-duck session, insisting the Senate should wait until next year. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Saxby Chambliss said they could support the treaty but not under the current timetable. Alexander told reporters that rushing the deal was "reckless."

In a positive sign for the treaty's prospects, Republicans backed down on a threat to have it read in its entirety on the Senate floor, a move that could have caused significant delay.

Obama has said he is prepared to put off his holiday vacation travel until the treaty is completed, elevating the measure to year-end, must-do status along with the tax deal. Democrats are determined to push the treaty through the Senate in hopes of giving Obama a foreign policy victory before the GOP grabs more power next year.

"We believe we should stay here as long as it takes to get this treaty ratified, and we are prepared to do so," said the Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Democrat John Kerry.

Speaking for the treaty before Democrats took their turn, Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana said it "will enable American teams to return to Russia to collect data on the Russian arsenal and verify Russian compliance. These inspections greatly reduce the possibility that we will be surprised by Russian nuclear deployments or advancements."

U.S. weapons inspections ended a year ago with the expiration of the 1991 arms control treaty.

Angry accusations marked the hours before the vote as some Republicans threatened to force the treaty to be read aloud in the Senate. The White House called the GOP out on the maneuver, with press secretary Robert Gibbs assailing it as a "new low in putting political stunts ahead of our national security." But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said reading the treaty was not essential.

Several Republicans had argued that the limited time available in the lame-duck session made it difficult to give the treaty the consideration it deserved. Twenty-two Republican senators signed a letter Dec. 2 calling for debate on the treaty to be delayed until next year.

Proponents of the treaty say that, besides renewed weapons inspections, it would keep the two biggest nuclear powers on the path to reducing their arsenals. Opponents have asserted it would limit U.S. missile defense options and argued that it has insufficient procedures to verify Russia's adherence to the treaty.

The issue has pitted moderate Republicans against hard-line conservatives, with potential 2012 challengers to Obama making opposition a requirement for anyone weighing a bid for the GOP presidential nomination. Lining up in opposition are Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

Backing the treaty are former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and several secretaries of state and defense from Republican and Democratic administrations, including Condoleezza Rice.

Supporters are pushing for ratification in this legislative session because prospects for passage will dim when the Democrats' majority shrinks by five senators in January.

Obama signed the treaty with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in April. The treaty would allow each country 1,550 strategic warheads, down from the current ceiling of 2,200.

[Associated Press; By DESMOND BUTLER]

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