Missile Defense Holding Up US-Russia Treaty Talks

The US has told Russia to "suck it" over their missile defense shield, and that's holding up the treaty talks on the new nuclear arms discussions.

Negotiations to complete a new U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty have stalled over a Russian demand for the option to withdraw unilaterally if Moscow determines that U.S. missile defenses would threaten its intercontinental nuclear missile force, a senior U.S. official said Monday.

Similar "unilateral statements" have been included in previous arms control treaties, and the Bush administration used one in 2002 to abrogate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the former Soviet Union.

The Obama administration, however, has rejected the Russian demand, fearing that it could make it harder to win the Republican votes needed for Senate ratification of the new nuclear arms pact.

"The issue here is what do the Russians feel they need, but also keeping an eye on not trying to complicate the ratification process," said a senior U.S. official, who requested anonymity because of the delicacy of the negotiations.

By: Brant