Another Faux Obama Emergency: Bypass Senate Ratification of Russian Arms Treaty

Further proof of the totalitarian-in-chief exercising power he does not have. Exception sets terrible precedent, just as exception makes bad law.

The out-of-control presidency.

US-Russian Arms Negotiators "Under the Gun," Might Temporarily Bypass Senate Ratification for Treaty Jake Tapper, ABC News (hat tip Kenneth S.)

[Italics, emphasis mine]

MOSCOW -- With the clock running out on a new US-Russian arms treaty before the previous Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, expires on December 5, a senior White House official said Sunday said that the difficulty of the task might mean temporarily bypassing the Senate’s constitutional role in ratifying treaties by enforcing certain aspects of a new deal on an executive levels and a “provisional basis” until the Senate ratifies the treaty.

[...]

Samore said administration lawyers are exploring the "different options that are available. One option is that both sides could agree to continue the inspections by executive agreement; that would work on our side. On the Russian side, as I understand it, that would require Duma approval."

The fact that the administration is preparing for such an extraordinary measure shows just how much pressure the two administrations are under to arrive at an agreement before the 18-year-old treaty expires. While resident Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are expected to announce progress tomorrow on a nuclear arms reduction treaty – nicknamed “New START” -- to take effect in just five short months, many sticking points that remain unresolved.

[...]

Both the US and Russia have agreed in principle to reduce the number of nuclear weapon delivery vehicles from the current level of 1,600 each, as was negotiated under START, and to reduce the number of nuclear warheads each nation has in its arsenal from 2,200 each, as agreed upon during the 2002 Moscow Treaty.

One of the major sticking points so far has been Russia’s continued frustration at US plans for a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, an issue [White House Coordinator for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Security and Arms Control Gary Samore] said would “have to be addressed in the new treaty,” though he would not specify just how.

Do you think Obama will throw our allies under the bus? Rhetorical question, I know.

[...]

“In terms of missile defense Poland and the Czech Republic are one thing, Iran is a different one altogether, they are too far apart geographically,” Samore said. “I do not understand how people can say that missile defense is linked to the problems of the Middle East.” He allowed that “the missiles that North Korea is using have tremendous range. This has to be of concern for us. We are located in close proximity to this country.”

Hmmmm, I don't know how people can say the tiny country of Israel is linked to the global jihad.

[...]

After more than four hours worth of meetings with Medvedev on Monday, President Obama and his Russian counterpart will outline what is essentially yet another outline for a treaty. In London in April the two outlined what was an outline for this outline. Since that time, Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance Rose Gottemoeller and her counterpart, Anatoly Antonov, the head of the department for security and disarmament in the Russian Foreign Ministry, have been negotiating intensely.

President Obama told Russia’s ITAR-TASS/ROSSIYA TV that his “goal is that both countries reduce their nuclear stockpiles in a way that doesn't leave either country with an advantage, but reduces tensions and the expense of maintaining such high nuclear stockpiles when they're not necessary for our defense and our deterrence."

I can only imagine how 'tough' Obama is.

Comments

[Achilles]

At first, I thought it strange that the Usurper-in-Chief was in Russia for the 4th of July, but then it occurred to me, why wouldn't he want to return to his [spiritual and political] home for the holiday. Besides, after 6 months in office, his handlers probably needed to get a full, face-to-face debrief and prepare his instructions for the near future.

“In terms of missile defense Poland and the Czech Republic are one thing, Iran is a different one altogether, they are too far apart geographically,” Samore said. “I do not understand how people can say that missile defense is linked to the problems of the Middle East.” He allowed that “the missiles that North Korea is using have tremendous range. This has to be of concern for us. We are located in close proximity to this country.”

According to the posted article, this statement was made by the White House Coordinator for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Security and Arms Control Gary Samore. Are you kidding me!? This clown is supposed to be the expert on such matters for the White House and sees no advantage in allowing two of our more reliable allies these days, Poland and the Czech Republic, to enjoy the promised benefits of a missile defense system!? Benefits that would accrue not just to the Poles and Czechs but to their more timid European neighbors, and possibly to us as well. How long does this fool thinks it will take before dirt-poor North Korean transfer everything they know about long-range missiles to the oil-rich Iranians?

There are only two possible explanations for this statement. Either Mr. Samore is a complete idiot who is totally unqualified to do his job, or he has just tipped the administration's hand that Obummer intends to renege on our promises to the Poles and Czechs in order to grow closer to his ideological confreres - the old Soviet/KGB totalitarians.

[Indigo Red]

Treaties have run out before without a replacement agreement in place and it doesn't result in dire consequences like war. The old treaty may be defunct, but all parties generally continue in compliance with the old treaty. The Russians are not going to start lobbing nukes just because the treaty ran out. Obama is a master scammer.

However, this might be a good thing. Obama is beginning to lose the faith of the press, his base of support as illustrated by the Atlas post PROPAGANDA PRESIDENCY: Obama Censoring Embarrassing White House Press Coverage Clips. Now the Messiah wants to deprive Congress of their Constitutioal power to ratify treaties. Not a good strategy while attempting to convince Congressfolk they are still relevent. Pelosi and Reed will not be happy campers.

[Mongol in the Mountains]

What other anti-American act could he have performed that would speak louder the words, "I am a loyal Socialist!" than to desert the country he is supposed to represent on one of the most important patriotic American holidays just to visit his chums in the communist homeland?

Fo Guck Souryelf Bomama! (communist for "have a nice day")