LOS ANGELES — A strange sense of deja vu is gripping Washington these days, as the debate over ratification by the U.S. Senate of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia heats up. Spats have broken out among the Obama administration, future presidential contenders, senators, and arms control and defense experts.
There may not be nostalgia for the Cold War in any of this, but much of that era's mindset can be perceived again in the arguments being knocked about.
The Senate must decide whether New START enhances American security. Unfortunately, whatever the decision — which has been delayed perhaps until late fall to allow Obama's administration more time to muster support for the treaty — the U.S. and Russian governments will continue to place each other in the nuclear crosshairs for the foreseeable future.