Russia Suspends US Plutonium Disposal Agreement (Putin blames US - Syria hostilities)

I B Times ^ | 10/03/2016 | Himanshu Goenka

[MarchonDC09122009]

Russia Suspends US Plutonium Disposal Agreement

http://www.ibtimes.com/russia-suspends-us-plutonium-disposal-agreement-2425250

Russia Suspends US Plutonium Disposal Agreement By Himanshu Goenka @HimGoJourno On 10/03/16 AT 7:37 AM

Russia has suspended its 16-year-old agreement with the United States to dispose weapons-grade plutonium, citing “Washington’s unfriendly actions toward Russia, according to Tass news agency. A decree to that effect was issued by President Vladimir Putin.

An official notification said the reason behind the decree was “a fundamental change of the circumstances and the emergence of a threat to strategic stability as a result of unfriendly actions by the United States towards Russia and the United States’ inability to ensure compliance with the assumed commitments to utilizing excessive weapons grade plutonium under international treaties and also proceeding from the need for urgent measures to protect the security of Russia.”

The Tass report said Putin had asked the Foreign Ministry to notify the U.S. about the suspension and had also appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov as his representative for any internal hearings on the suspension of the deal and its related protocols. Related Stories

    US Nuclear Numbers Keep Dropping     US Resumes Production Of Plutonium-238

Russia and the U.S., which house most of the world’s nuclear weapons, had signed an agreement on Aug. 29, 2000. Under the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA), both countries committed to “dispose of no less than 34 metric tons of weapon-grade plutonium removed from their respective defense programs. Both countries will dispose of their plutonium by irradiating it as mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in nuclear reactors beginning in the 2018 time frame. Once irradiated and converted to spent fuel, the plutonium can no longer be readily used for nuclear weapons.”

The amount of plutonium to be disposed of under PMDA is enough for about 17,000 nuclear weapons.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the PMDA was renewed and updated on April 13, 2010, under which “Russia reaffirmed its commitment to dispose of its surplus weapon-grade plutonium and presented a technically and financially credible approach for disposition.”

The agreement came into force on July 13, 2011, but signs of tension surrounding it arose earlier this year when Putin told journalists in April that the U.S. was not keeping its side of the bargain after the U.S. unilaterally changed its policy of plutonium disposal from mixed oxide nuclear fuel to dilute-and-dispose.

[MarchonDC09122009]

Obama's actions in Syria (backing ISIS rebels) make the world a much more dangerous place. Putin is sick off Obola's creative destruction that is wrecking havoc in Europe.

[Mr. Douglas]

This is one of two things:
1. Saber rattling.
2. VERY scary.

[Biggirl]

Mr. Putin’s way of saying, cannot wait for Mr. Trump to get elected.

[rktman]

Me, I’m “putin’” the blame right on john f’n kohn-heinz-kerry’s gangplank. Heard he’s gonna NOT talk to the russkies until the straighten up and fly right. Only wishin’ he’d STFU with his boorish sonorous droning.

[Biggirl]

https://www.ft.com/content/1c6ff2ce-1939-11e6-b197-a4af20d5575e

[MichaelCorleone]

Mr. Trump constantly tells us that we are the laughingstock of the world.

Maybe he should also tell us how significantly more dangerous the world is since obama/jarret/clinton/kerry came on the scene. I bet the world’s not laughing at that.

In fact they’re preparing for the inevitable WWIII. obama and the neocon nutjobs are salivating at the thought...

[ETL]

Mr. Putin’s way of saying, cannot wait for Mr. Trump to get elected.

Donald Trump: 'Putin has eaten Obama's lunch' on Ukraine

Mar 13, 2014
Eun Kyung Kim: TODAY

Donald Trump slammed President Obama Thursday on TODAY for failing to take a stronger line against President Vladimir Putin in dealing with Ukraine, saying he feared Obama would now make up for lost time with imprudent moves to "show his manhood."

The real estate mogul and reality-TV star, who has criticized Putin for sending military troops into Crimea, said Obama must now take fierce steps to prevent the situation from escalating further.

"We should definitely do sanctions and we have to show some strengths. I mean, Putin has eaten Obama's lunch, therefore our lunch, for a long period of time," Trump said. ..."

http://www.today.com/news/donald-trump-putin-has-eaten-obamas-lunch-ukraine-2D79372098

[ETL]

How Russia arms America's southern neighbors

Ioan Grillo
May 9, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Russia's push into Ukraine has put many on edge. But less known is that Russia is also strengthening its military links south of the Rio Grande and re-establishing itself as a power in the region.

Vladimir Putin has been strengthening military links here, and Russia is now the largest arms dealer to governments in Latin America, surpassing the United States.

Russia has even floated the possibility of building new military bases in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and putting its warships permanently in the Caribbean.

In the midst of the Ukraine crisis, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov recently visited Cuba, Peru, Chile, and Nicaragua, where he announced that Russia would also pour money into the new Central American canal project. ..."

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/140508/russian-arms-military-trade-latin-america
___________________________________________________

Russia Boosts Arms, Training for Leftist Latin Militaries

Moscow defense minister inks deals with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua for joint exercises

BY: Bill Gertz
February 20, 2015

Russia agreed to provide military training for three leftist regimes in Latin America and increase military visits and exercises following a visit last week to the region by Moscow's Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, Pentagon officials said.

Shoygu met with defense and military leaders in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and signed several agreements on warship visits and military training during the visit, which ran from Feb. 11 to 14. It is not clear whether any new arms deals were completed during the visit.

Defense officials said the Russian leader is seeking bases in the region for strategic bomber flights that Shoygu recently promised would include flights over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russia-boosts-arms-training-for-leftist-latin-militaries/

[ETL]

From the campaign trail, 2008...

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:

http://web.archive.org/web/20090412030633/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
__________________________________________________________

From Investor's Business Daily, Jan 2012:

Obama To Betray Missile Defense Secrets To Moscow

Investor's Business Daily ^ | January 9, 2012 | IBD staff

Appeasement: From ObamaCare to recess appointments, honoring the Constitution has not been an administration hallmark. But when it comes to betraying secrets to mollify the Russians, it becomes a document the president hides behind.

It was bad enough that the 2012 defense authorization bill signed by President Obama set America on a downward spiral of military mediocrity.

He also issued a signing statement, something he once opposed, saying that language in the bill aimed at protecting top-secret technical data on the U.S. Standard Missile-3 - linchpin of our missile defense - might impinge on his constitutional foreign-policy authority.

Section 1227 of the defense law prohibits spending any funds that would be used to give Russian officials access to sensitive missile-defense technology as part of a cooperation agreement without first sending Congress a report identifying the specific secrets, how they'd be used and steps to protect the data from compromise.

The president is required to certify that any technology shared will not be passed on to third parties such as China, North Korea or Iran, that the Russians will not use transferred secrets to develop countermeasures and that the Russians are reciprocating in sharing missile-defense technology. ..."

"In his signing statement, Obama said he would treat these legal restrictions as 'non-binding' and that 'my administration will also interpret and implement section 1244 (sic) in a manner that does not interfere with the president's constitutional authority to conduct foreign affairs and avoids the undue disclosure of sensitive diplomatic communications.'

Betraying our secrets is easy for a president who betrayed allies Poland and the Czech Republic to placate Moscow.

Poland was to host ground-based interceptors such as those we've deployed in California and Alaska, with missile-tracking radar deployed in the Czech Republic.

Obama pulled the plug when Moscow objected. Never mind, he said, we have a better approach: a four-phase plan that calls for using three versions of the Navy's Standard SM-3 interceptor missile that forms the backbone of its Aegis missile-defense system.

The fourth phase consists of a missile still on the drawing board scheduled for deployment by 2020, a version of the SM-3 called the Block IIB. It would intercept hostile missiles in the "early intercept" phase before an enemy missile could release its warheads and decoys. The Russians want the SM-3's secrets, and Obama appears to be willing to turn them over.

The president wants to save the New Start Treaty, which the Russians have threatened to abandon if we try to fully implement President Reagan's dream of defeating a nuclear missile attack.

Russia has unilaterally asserted that any qualitative or quantitative improvement in U.S. missile defenses would be grounds for withdrawal from the treaty.

Read More At Investor's Business Daily:
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/010912-597158-obama-gives-russia-missile-defense-secrets.htm#ixzz3jXmMbVwY
___________________________________________________

March 2012...

"Obama was talking with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when neither of them realized that their conversation was being picked up by microphones. Here is what they said:

Obama: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it's important for him to give me space."

Medvedev: "Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you ..."

Obama: "This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility."

Medvedev: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir."

"This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility." That statement tells us much about the president's mindset.

The specific mention of missile defense is worrisome enough. Mr. Obama has retreated from the missile defense plan that was negotiated with European allies during the George W. Bush administration.

Apparently, he is signaling Moscow that he intends to retreat further. The clear implication from the president's comments is that he cannot tell the American people before the election what he plans to do after the election.

In addition, there is the phrase "on all these issues," implying more is at stake than just missile defense."

Article: Obama plans double cross on missile defense
When it comes to keeping America safe, we shouldn't be too flexible:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/29/obama-plans-double-cross-on-missile-defense/print/
__________________________________________________________

[EBH]

Interesting.

Aren’t they doing a nationwide nuclear drill today/tomorrow? Evacuating some 40 million people to underground bunkers?

Representatives for the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) said that all bomb shelters and underground shelters in Moscow meant for the evacuation of people in case of a nuclear attack or other emergencies, “were prepared and will be able to accommodate the entire population of the capital.” - See more at: http://www.pravdareport.com/russia/politics/30-09-2016/135749-moscow_nuclear_war-0/#sthash.P0zYGVVO.dpuf

[thoughtomator]

It should be b)

What Kerry and Samantha Power have been doing in Syria and Ukraine is beyond evil, and their handmaidens in the nauseatingly servile “press” function as mere megaphones and stenographers, leaving the average US citizen completely ignorant of the outrageous recklessness of present-day US foreign policy.

[ETL]

Mr Putin, what do you think of your "useful idiot"
supporters on Free Republic?

____________________________

Useful idiots

Thomas Sowell
May 20, 2003

"The term 'useful idiots' has been attributed to Lenin, as a description of those mindless people in the Western democracies who would always find ways to excuse whatever the Soviet Union did. Columnist Mona Charen's new book Useful Idiots shows that such people are still with us.

Long after the Soviet Union's horrors had become too widely known around the world for their sympathizers in the West to be able to get away with whitewashing the USSR, new Communist dictatorships arose to become the new objects of the affections of the Western intelligentsia and of like-minded people in the media and in politics. ..."

http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2003/05/20/useful_idiots

[Mr. Douglas]

Well, I’m just glad I’m not one of those who “dwell safely in the coastlands”, as Ezekiel 39 calls it...

[MarchonDC09122009]

I agree.
‘Specially on the heels of RU announcing Massive Civil Defense drills and reactivation numerous Shortwave frequencies for RU State use:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3476071/posts

Will follow RU Mil activity more closely should diplomatic rhetoric escalate.

DEFCON updates:
http://defconwarningsystem.com/dws/

RU AF movement non-SIGINT org:
https://mobile.twitter.com/AlRFORCEFREAK

RE: “This is one of two things:
1. Saber rattling.
2. VERY scary.”

[Biggirl]

A sign that Mr. Putins RESPECTS another leader.

[shanover]

So much for that “reset” that the fool Clinton bragged about and the dithering of Obunghole. I never thought I would say that the world was a more stable place within the confines of the Cold War and “Superpower” status of the leader of the free world with the USA. We have become a joke. FUBO and FUHRC.

[ETL]

"Mr Putin"?

You, like Mark Levin and myself, were for Ted Cruz, weren't you?

Well, Cruz and Levin both know Putin is an evil SOB who can't be trusted.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Another Obama foreign policy failure.

[Montaignes Cat]

Hey Obama... the 1980s called, they said it looks like you need their foreign policy after all.

[trebb]

Looks like Obama has completed Hillary’s “reset” of relations with Russia.