Fact Checking the Fact Checker: A Response to Senator Kerry

James Carafano / July 07, 2010

Senator Kerry (D–MA) penned an op-ed in the Washington Post making the case that ratification of the New START Treaty is in the best interest of U.S. national security. His article is in response to former Governor Mitt Romney’s (R–MA) recent op-ed calling the treaty Obama’s biggest foreign policy mistake. Sen. Kerry refers to Mr. Romney’s objections as “uninformed” and “political” as he engages in a “footrace to the right against Sarah Palin.” Opposing this treaty is not political and there are several informed reasons to not support ratification.

1. Missile Defense

The Administration has stated from the beginning that this treaty in no way impedes upon missile defense. Then they backed off, admitting that Article V of the treaty prohibits conversion of ICBM launchers into missile defense launchers. Now, as the Senate continues to scrutinize the treaty it has become clear that the treaty as is limits ballistic missile defense test target missiles. As noted by Baker Spring, “Any missile defense target that includes the first stages of the specifically identified existing ICBMs and SLBMs or new ICBMs and SLBMs will be subject to restrictions—including the first stages of the Minuteman II and Peacekeeper ICBMs, despite the fact that they are retired.” That the treaty will impede upon America’s missile defense system is undeniable. (more…)