Senate Ratifies nuclear arms Pact

WASHINGTON - the Senate voted 71 26 Wednesday, a new strategic arms deal with Russia, to ratify meet a key objective of the foreign policy of President Barack Obama seemed just a few days previously in danger.

One of the last acts of the Congress was lame duck with the Democratic majority to more than two thirds tally to deliver 13 Senate Republicans needed for ratification.

European Pressphoto Agency Democratic Senator John Kerry, back, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Republican Senator Dick Lugar hears statements provide during a press conference after the Senate voted to ratify a new strategic arms deal with Russia.

Obama management views of the new strategic arms reduction Treaty or fresh start as an important part of rebuilding relations with Moscow. It will aim relatively modest reduction of strategic nuclear weapons in a new round of talks with Russia moving the Pact's smaller, tactical nuclear weapons and conventional forces to crop.

Mr failed to support some celebrities wavering Republicans, including Sen. John McCain from Arizona to secure Obama. Much greater support enjoyed previous large arms control treaties negotiated by the Republican presidents.

"This is the major arms control agreement in nearly two decades and it is safer and reduce our nuclear arsenals with Russia," said Mr Obama.

Critics of the Treaty calculates that his cuts in the strategic weapons to destabilize arsenal will prove potentially giving Russia, and finally China, an edge over the United States as those Nations take more aggressive steps to develop of a new generation of nuclear warheads.

James Masterson, a scholar at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, the opposition to the Pact, said the contract "is the world to make a less stable place."

Senators spent much of this week working on page offers aimed at mitigating such concerns and support among wavering Republicans.

As part of the last-minute maneuver decided to Senator John Kerry (D., mass.), Chairman of the Committee on foreign relations an amendment by Mr McCain directed by the President, Russia to inform intends that its missile defense program to continue the United States.

Senator Ron Wyden (D., Oregon) the Senate returned, only a few days after prostate cancer surgery, his voice for ratification. Vice President Joe Biden was Chairman of the vote and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Senate Chamber.

The START Treaty with Russia ratified Wednesday in a 71 26 vote passed President Barack Obama a victory on one of its main priorities in the lame duck session of Congress by the Senate.

The Treaty will enter into force once ratified by the Russian Duma. Senator Richard Lugar (R., ind.), the Foreign Relations Committee's top Republican and one early supporters of the Treaty, he said the Russian legislature to approve the document soon, maybe through end of the year expected.

The contract limits the United States and Russia to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads on each page. As soon as Moscow takes action on the Covenant, will move the United States, decrease the intercontinental ballistic missiles fleet to 420 of 450, and reduce the number of nuclear-capable bombers to 60 of 96.

The next round of talks with Russia, dealing with tactical nuclear weapons could present higher hurdles.

Strategic warheads are long-range weapons against cities used while tactical warheads are meant for short range against military units should be used.

Russia compared a decisive advantage in tactical nuclear weapons, with approximately 2.050 to 500 in the active U.S. arsenal.

See a timeline of the talks.

A tactical weapons Treaty would require intrusive in place weapons inspections on Russian and American military bases in Europe, and neither side wants such inspections, said Leslie yellow, President of the Council on foreign relations emeritus.

James Miller, a senior Pentagon official of who helped, new beginning, negotiate obstacles recognized but said a deal was still possible. Given the number of tactical weapons on both sides said there is "plenty of room for reducing" it.

Mr Obama committed than to secure part of its negotiations with Republicans to support ratification, $85 billion spend more than 10 years, the modernisation of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Conservative critics want to refurbish the United States not only old weapons, but also to design warheads that could be used more realistic new warheads, including potentially low yield in a conflict.

-Jonathan Weisman contributed to this article.

Write toNaftali Bendavid at the naftali.bendavid@wsj.com

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