“If the president signs a side deal limiting U.S. missile defense in exchange for Russia’s signature on the START Treaty, it makes matters even worse.”
The reality is the Russkies don’t trust us (why should they, with a prevaricator-in-chief in the Oval Office?), so they will never agree to further weapons reductions without first eviscerating about missile defense capability. The president naively thinks that a world in which U.S. nuclear power is completely neutralized is a safer one. This is where amateur hour at the White House is posing a threat to the nation’s well-being that may not be reversible. We will not be safe until this man is no longer authorized to press the nuclear button since by now all of our enemies know that he hasn’t the cojones to do so were that ever needed.
That is all missing a fact that Russians are operating tested and working ABM systems since earlier 70s after they have deployed a Galoshe system. Today their military already has a second generation ABM systems while their defence companies are offering some cheaper SAMs with built-in ABM solutions for sale to the 3rd world.