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U.S. pulls out of Soviet-era nuclear missile pact with Russia
The United States formally withdrew from a landmark nuclear missile pact with Russia on Friday after determining that Moscow was in violation of the treaty, something the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
Washington signalled it would pull out of the arms control treaty six months ago unless Moscow stuck to the accord. Russia called the move a ploy to exit a pact the United States wanted to leave anyway in order to develop new missiles.
The 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was negotiated by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Previously: President Trump Warns That the U.S. Will Pull out of Nuclear Forces Treaty and Build Up its Arsenal
(Score: 1) by Arik on Saturday August 03 2019, @04:51AM (6 children)
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 5, Interesting) by takyon on Saturday August 03 2019, @11:05AM (5 children)
Do you really think that Russia and China are excited (much less "very, very excited") to enter into a new nuclear treaty with the U.S.? Especially given the less than amicable conditions that led to the current INF collapsing, or China's attention being focused on Hong Kong (and if that escalates further and the U.S. puts out statements in support of Hong Kong...).
Oh, and since the Trump quote seems to have disappeared from TFAs for some reason:
https://news.sky.com/story/trump-china-and-russia-very-excited-about-proposed-new-nuclear-pact-11776241 [sky.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Informative) by Arik on Saturday August 03 2019, @04:35PM (4 children)
China? Yeah, that's less likely. I think they were happy with the INF without being a party to it. But, that doesn't mean this is impossible.
You still didn't explain what you meant by the previous comment.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by legont on Sunday August 04 2019, @04:31AM (3 children)
Yep, rockets are going to Asia https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asia-inf/u-s-defense-secretary-says-he-favors-placing-missiles-in-asia-idUSKCN1UT098 [reuters.com]
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by legont on Sunday August 04 2019, @04:40AM (2 children)
The reason I think mostly is that Chinese sea based rockets are faster and have better range than the US ones. The US can not use aircraft carriers in the region - they are basically floating ducks. The US needs better base for the rockets.
Another reason is that China does not have deployed nukes. Their strategy is to sit out nuclear strike, dig up their nukes from storage, and strike back.
Why this is important? It allows China to actually use their rockets say against the US aircraft carrier or even the US mainland without risk of provoking nuclear exchange.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Tuesday August 06 2019, @06:46AM (1 child)
Don't make me defend the PRC. Don't make me defend Winnie, please. He's my least favorite.
But the PRC wanting control of the south china sea should be put in context of the control Trump demands not only over the gulf of mexico, but as far away as la Venezuela.
It's all just an excuse to boost arms budgets in both countries of course.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday August 06 2019, @11:33PM
Let's check the basic numbers. http://statisticstimes.com/economy/united-states-vs-china-economy.php [statisticstimes.com]
China is 1.28 US on PPP basis, which many say does not mean too much as the US is still 1.5 China on face dollar value.
However the US just accused China of currency manipulation which I'd assume means 25-50% "illegal" devaluation. Does this means the US just accepted that China is an equal if not bigger economy?
If so, China has a right for similar military and corresponding policies such as aircraft carriers within striking distance of Washington as well as rocket bases say in Venezuela. Actually, as the biggest and most dynamic economy, China has a responsibility for protecting this world.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.