Slashdot Mirror
US and Russia Conclude Arms-Control Treaty
reporter writes "According to a report just published by the NY Times, Washington and the Kremlin have finalized an agreement on limiting nuclear weapons and related hardware. Notably, the agreement does not restrict American development of an anti-missile shield. Quoting: 'The new treaty will reduce the binding limit on deployed strategic nuclear warheads by more than one-quarter, and on launchers by half. It will reestablish an inspection and verification regime, replacing one that expired in December. But while the pact recognizes the dispute between the two countries over American plans for missile defense based in Europe, it will not restrict the United States from building such a shield. ... The specific arms reductions embedded in the new treaty amount to a continuing evolution rather than a radical shift in the nuclear postures of both countries. According to people in Washington and Moscow who were briefed on the new treaty, it will lower the legal limit on deployed strategic warheads to 1,550 each, from the 2,200 allowed as of 2012 under the previous treaty. It would lower the limit on launchers to 800 from the 1,600 now permitted. Nuclear-armed missiles and heavy bombers would be capped at 700 each.'"
Dear United States of America and Russian Federation, your new enemies are China, North Korea and various countries in the Middle East.
Sign peace treaties between you two but don't disarm yourselves, the wolves are watching.
Uh. Somebody opened a political can of worms. And he was marked +3 Insightful besides. Alright. I'll bite.
>>>Damn Obama, first healthcare and now cutting nukes whilst keeping your shield intact. You're good.
I'm going to be fined $1000 for not belonging to an HMO, and my personal taxes will increase $1500 (according to a CNN Sunday Morning report). If you think I'm going to praise Obama for that, then please think again.
Yes Obama is good for having eliminated some of those missiles. Good job.
But there are other things I could criticize Obama for, like his decision to track cellphones, turnoff the internet whenever the president (either him or some future dude) feels like it, and also signing the Patriot Renewal Act. PLUS: If I lived in the EU, I'd be asking why America is building a shield instead of the Europeans?
In general I view Obama as just a continuance of Bush's policies.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Also:
Russia is #1 with the fastest internet at 9.6 Mbit/s (relative to other continent-sized federations). The average Russian citizen's connection is about 2 Mbit/s faster than the average US citizen and 3 Mbit/s faster than the average EU citizen. The Russian Federation is well-poised for the technological revolution.
Source: speedtest.net
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall