U.S., Russia Agree To Reduce Nuke Count

During 1st Face-To-Face Meeting, Obama, Medvedev Announce Plan To Replace Disarmament Treaty, Destroy Weapons

(CBS/AP)  The United States and Russia have reached a deal to reopen nuclear disarmament talks, to "pursue" a reduction in the number of warheads held by both countries.

The two countries will embark on the first major arms discussions since 1997.

President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced the talks on Wednesday after their first meeting, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in London, site of the G20 summit. Both countries want to reduce the number of warheads, but no firm number has been reached.

"We agreed to pursue new and verifiable reductions in our strategic offensive arsenals in a step-by-step process, beginning by replacing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with a new, legally-binding treaty," said a joint U.S.-Russian statement released by the White House after the two men met in London. (Click here to read the full statement.)

"We are instructing our negotiators to start talks immediately on this new treaty and to report on results achieved in working out the new agreement by July."

The leaders agreed to craft a replacement for the expiring 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which limited the world's two largest nuclear arsenals to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads, known as START, before it expires on Dec. 5.

CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer reported earlier that, according to an administration source, Wednesday's meeting between Mr. Obama and Medvedev was a scene-setter for a formal U.S.-Russian summit as early as this summer.

During their meeting Wednesday, Mr. Obama accepted an invitation from Medvedev to visit Moscow in July.

The White House official told CBS News that Wednesday's meeting was all about gauging "dynamics" between the two men.

"With the START Treaty expiring in December, the agreement between President Obama and President Medvedev to begin negotiations for a new strategic arms reduction pact ensures that the G20 meeting ends with an accomplishment," says CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk, "regardless of the preceived limits of the final communique to come out of the summit."

Mr. Obama's administration has reached out to Russia during its first two months in power, trying to repair a rift that emerged over the United States' plan to build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe that Moscow vehemently opposes. Mr. Obama called a new arms control treaty push "a good place to start" in rebuilding a partnership with Russia.

Answering questions at a news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mr. Obama lamented tensions and "drift" between Moscow and Washington in recent years. He told reporters that "I have no interest in papering those over," but also said the two countries share many interests, including reducing the threat of terrorism and stabilizing the world economy.

"Both sides of the Atlantic understand that, as much as the constant cloud of nuclear warfare has receded, that the presence of these deadly weapons continues to be the gravest threat to humanity," Mr. Obama said.

Mr. Obama said his country wanted to "press the reset button," a phrase that has been used by other top members of his administration - initially by Vice President Joe Biden - in addressing U.S.-Russian relations.

The Kremlin has made clear it believes it is up to Washington to open the effort with concessions.

U.S.-Russia relations have deteriorated in recent years to their lowest point since the early 1980s.

Mr. Obama has indicated less enthusiasm than predecessor George W. Bush for a proposed U.S. missile defense system based in Eastern Europe, an idea that has enraged Russia.

[formrusmcsgt]

The two countries will embark on the first major arms discussions since 1997.
----
Why is it no surprise that not one calorie was expendeded on this issue by the dubya administration during its entire 8 years?

[joule18]

No more stupid than you, for instance.
Posted by mcthreeteeth at 7:21 PM : Apr 1, 2009

Unfortunately, history has a way of repeating itself and the Russians have not kept their end of the bargain in the past. Look who is stupid now.

[DrDan2000]

1500 nukes each for the US and Russia is still too much for the next step. The Russians reportedly are ready to replace old warheads with new ones. The numbers have to be right for them not to do that. Our warheads and missile systems have outlasted theirs in durability and reliability. A plan to phased reduction to 500 assembled warheads, with perhaps 250 warheads ready to reassemble, might convince the Russians that we are ready for the next step -- which would be negotiating with China, Great Britain, France, India, Pakistan and Israel on proportionate reduction to below 100 warheads per nation and then 50 and then 10 assembled warheads each within 10 years. The Russians want treaties on defensive weapons and we need a global treaty against the sort of missile race going on in Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and North Korea. All missiles capable of going across borders need to be dismantled and put into storage. A conventional missile treaty needs to accompany the nuclear arms reduction treaty --- and this Obama Medvedev statement shows the linkage to antimissile systems --- which will take us towards missile limitation talks regionally and internationally.

[erasmus111]

If the top three nations reduce total numbers of 'nuclear weapons' beyond a certain point, I am concerned that one of those wacky religious run nut houses will think that it is "Allahs will" to destroy all life on Earth

Posted by toolmangler-2009 at 3:18 PM : Apr 1, 2009


It's just a matter of time.

I'd seriously like to know how they figure that if they cut back on the number of nuclear weapons they have, how is that going to make any difference? As long as anyone has them, there's a problem.

[joule18]

Russia says "We lie, you die." How much more stupid can he get?

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by IrishWench01 at 3:32 PM : Apr 1, 2009




I tend to agree with that. good post!

[bajajohn1]

Good first step to thaw the frozen relations between two nuclear superpowers. Dumbo Bush and Dirt Cheney nearly had us back in a cold war posture. Enlightened leadership will yield enlightened results. The conservatives can't spell 'enlightened.'

[toolmangler-2009]

Yeah, I know. Daydreaming.
Kind of like the dream foot ball team.
Posted by froggy57 at 3:01 PM : Apr 1, 2009



George Orwells books will give you tremendous insight into that scenario. (Read "1984" and "Animal Farm")

[toolmangler-2009]

I am worried that they might reduce the numbers to a level that will make it seem like one of us could survive a nuke attack by the other. Right now every nuke armed nation knows beyond any doubt that a nuclear war with anybody is not winnable, (there are no winners in a nuclear war) The USA alone can end all life on this planet without using all of its nukes. So can Russia, China, India, Pakistan, England, France, and several others. N. Korea and Iran want to join the fray and we all know they don't have 'common sense' where human existence is concerned.If the top three nations reduce total numbers of 'nuclear weapons' beyond a certain point, I am concerned that one of those wacky religious run nut houses will think that it is "Allahs will" to destroy all life on Earth

[froggy57]

Maybe form a super world military force composed of Russian, Chinese, U.K., and American forces.
Totally independent. A separate and sovereign body.
With authority to act swiftly and decisively against any country that uses force against another country. For any reason.
Let them enforce the dismantling of all other military forces in the world.
Enforcing world wide peace.
Yeah, I know. Daydreaming.
Kind of like the dream foot ball team.

[aheadace]

Rowdy Barry and Bill are just "ROCK STARS" MAN THEY ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mecanik-2009]

In that picture up there where he has his finger in the other guys face. Whats that on his finger. Did he just pick something. yuck

[cbsuser]

Without all this jibberish about the past, I think this to be a Step Forward?

Thanks Mr. President

[onesword]

Why are people so scared? I think it's great for the two young leaders to start anew. Maybe it's the older generation that is paranoid.

[sjc_1]

The Social Security Trust Fund is required by law to ONLY invest in government bonds. This gave Reagan an open door to spend foolishly on the military when the Soviet Union was crumbling. He knew they were going down, but instructed the CIA to be quiet about it.

[ass_u_me]

Paadon me, but do you have any Grey Poupon?

No, seriously, I just wanted to interject:

RE: "U.S., Russia Agree To Reduce Nuke Count,"

That's a good idea!

[fedup12]

Well if the mullet fits........
Posted by omega39-2009 at 11:56 AM : Apr 1, 2009

LOL

IF the mullet fits you must acquit!

Ted Stevens

[schotzy81]

Continuing saga of Dmitry and Vladimir:

Putin: "Can you get Obama to throw his allies like Poland and the Ukraine under the bus?"
Medvedev: "Already done. We didn't even have to give him anything in return."
Putin: "Wow! And I thought Jimmy Carter was good for Russia!"

[schotzy81]

Medvedev: "Hey, Vlady! Guess what I just got the American President Obama to agree to?"
Putin: "What's that?"
Medvedev: "He agreed to disarm his nuclear arsenal!"
Puting: "How did you get him to do that?"
Medvedev: "I told him we'd do it too!"
Putin: "He fell for that? Even when we've been buzzing their carriers with our bombers and announced the building of new nuclear subs? Seriously???"
Medvedev: "Hook, line and sinker. Plus, he's bankrupting the US while slashing defense spending."
Putin: "Good job, Dmitry. I wish I had someone like Obama for US President when I was in charge. I always new Obama would tear down the US and be good for Mother Russia."

[omega39-2009]

I don't think that guy is wolfenstein

he just used Cletus, like many libs do
Posted by Joe-NY-4

Well if the mullet fits........