US Senate Begins Debate on New START Treaty

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate began debate on the U.S.-Russia "New START" treaty, which would reduce the nuclear arsenals of those two States.  More specifically, it would limit the U.S. and Russia to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic warheads and 700 launchers and would require the resumption of mutual on-site inspections (which lapsed last year).  66 Senators voted in favor of  opening the debate on the floor of the Senate; one more will be needed to secure the necessary two-thirds consent of the Senate for ratification.

(cgb)