“I suppose one could make the case that the two powers should just get it on and do it! as opposed to screwing around with other countries. But that’s neither for you or me to decide.”
Sure, but in the meantime it is just theater on the biggest stage in the world.
What did Obama mean when he told the Russian PResident to wait until after the election, when he would have more flexibility?
I believe the context of the conversation was that Russia is trying to get us to unilaterally reduce our stocks to get to some sort of parody with Russia. The problem is that Russia has never been open about all their programs and we don't have much chance of verifying what they say. (other than intelligence assets) and they killed most of those because they had spy's in our CIA and elsewhere.
No telling how many there are now or where.
Obama was probably thinking of his legacy. Because it's all about him. The Russians are looking for edge on a first strike capability. That is all they have pursued for decades.