Are hopes for a nuclear-free world just a pipe dream? According to The Guardian, two of President Obama’s initiatives, on disarmament and relations with Russia, have been dealt a serious setback.

Meanwhile in Washington, a Republican leader in the Senate signalled that the nuclear arms control treaty Obama signed in April with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is unlikely be ratified this year. Most observers say that if the treaty – known as New Start – is delayed until next year, it will be as good as dead, as the Democratic majority in the Senate will be even thinner by then, following the party’s losses in the midterm elections.

Obama On nuclear weapons

“So today, I state clearly and with conviction America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. I’m not naive. This goal will not be reached quickly – perhaps not in my lifetime. It will take patience and persistence. But now we, too, must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change. We have to insist, ‘Yes, we can.’”

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From BBC: Biden warns failure to pass nuclear treaty endangers US

Vice-President Joseph Biden has warned the US that failure to ratify a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia will “endanger our national security”.
He was reacting to comments by Jon Kyl, a Republican senator who said he did not think ratification of the New Start treaty should be considered this year.

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