Gates warns anew of fallout if Russia treaty fails

[November 22, 2010]  SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is sharpening his warnings about consequences for the United States if the Senate fails to approve a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia.

Gates had blunt words for Republicans holding up the treaty. Without it, he says, money that Republicans want for a modernization of U.S. nuclear weapons is "very much at risk."

The Pentagon chief also says that if the treaty fails it's a "slam-dunk cinch" that the U.S. will know less and less about Russian nuclear programs, because it won't have inspectors on site.

Speaking in Bolivia, where he is attending a regional defense conference, Gates also says Russian cooperation on a range of U.S. national security priorities is in jeopardy.

[Associated Press; By ANNE GEARAN]

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