Back in 1987, the USSR and the USA signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This treaty banned either nation from having or developing conventional and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km.<\/p>\n
While both signatories have periodically expressed displeasure with the treaty\u2019s limitations, until 2011 each party generally seemed to be in compliance. However, in 2011 Russia (which accepted the treaty\u2019s obligations on the inheriting the former-USSR’s nuclear arsenal after breakup of the USSR) apparently began violating the INF Treaty by conducting development associated with at least two weapons systems: the SS-25 and the SS-26.<\/p>\n
The current Administration disclosed this violation to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee in 2012. But they didn’t make any details regarding the violation public at the time.\u00a0 In fact, it also seems that the Administration \u201cneglected\u201d to brief NATO on the matter<\/a> until either late 2013 or early 2014 \u2013 and only briefed NATO\u00a0 after the press reported the Russian violation in late 2013<\/a>.<\/p>\n Seems to me that NATO would have a great interest in this issue, and would want to know the details.\u00a0 And you’d think we’d brief our NATO allies posthaste on something that important to their security, too.\u00a0 But I guess not.<\/p>\n In mid-2014, the current Administration finally accused Russia of violating the treaty.\u00a0 However, ever since they\u2019ve apparently continued to refuse further public disclosure of details \u2013 including sitting on a report recently prepared by DoD<\/a> analyzing the treaty breach.\u00a0 Per Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, that DoD report is currently \u201ctied up in the White House\u201d.\u00a0 The Administration says it hasn’t released the report because it is \u201cclassified\u201d.<\/p>\n Um . . . yeah. I\u2019m thinking the delay and obfuscation here regarding discussing the matter – and releasing DoD\u2019s report – is more because the report is politically embarrassing to the Administration.\u00a0 I’m guessing that report shows very clearly just how Russia thumbed its nose at the USA by a supine, spineless Administration regarding the INF treaty and got away with it.\u00a0 But I guess I could be wrong.<\/p>\n Regardless:\u00a0 if I were to place a bet, I’d bet we see these details about the time we see those on proposed the Iran nuclear deal.\u00a0 Both are just textbook examples of that \u201copenness\u201d promised us by the \u201cmost transparent Administration in history\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"