We Need Debate on Deterring Russia

Here’s a news flash: Vladimir Putin’s Russia has withdrawn from an agreement governing the disposal of plutonium usable in nuclear weapons. Even more ominous is its stated justification for doing so.

The Kremlin blamed “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.”

That sure sounds like it’s laying the groundwork for conflict.

Unfortunately, Dr. Mark Schneider, one of America’s preeminent authorities on nuclear threats, has just determined that Putin is also modernizing and expanding his strategic nuclear forces in ways that will likely violate the seriously flawed New START Treaty negotiated by President Obama and his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

A long-overdue debate about restoring our deterrent must begin.

Frank Gaffney, Jr. is president of the Center for Security Policy, a columnist for The Washington Times, and host of the nationally syndicated program, Secure Freedom Radio. Read more reports from Frank Gaffney, Jr. — Click Here Now.