Senators begin sixth day of START debate

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate engaged in heated debate on a U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control treaty Monday, with one senator urging colleagues to "stop the politics."

"I hope that the facts will control this debate," Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on the floor.

"The American people voted for us to stop the politics; they voted for us to act like adults and do the business of this country. Voting on this treaty gives us the opportunity to live up to the hopes of the American people."

Debate on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty entered its sixth day, with the Senate in recess so members could receive classified information about verification and other things in a closed-door session.

Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged the Senate in a letter Monday to ratify the treaty, saying the matter is "vital to national security," The Washington Post reported.

"The sooner it is ratified, the better," Mullen wrote, noting he participated in negotiating the deal and assuring senators "military perspectives were thoroughly considered."

Russia warned senators not to rewrite the treaty, The New York Times reported.

"I can only underscore that the strategic nuclear arms treaty, worked out on the strict basis of parity, in our view fully answers to the national interests of Russia and the United States," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Interfax news agency. "It cannot be opened up and become the subject of new negotiations."

Kerry expressed frustration at Republicans' comments about the treaty being pushed in the waning days of the lame-duck session when he said: "Just because you say something, doesn't make it true. ... This treaty is not being rushed. ... This treaty is being delayed at the request of Republicans. Is there no shame ever with respect to the arguments made on the floor of the United States Senate?"

Kerry said consideration of the treaty was delayed 13 times at the request of Republicans.

Moments before, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell explained why he would vote against the START document.

"First and foremost, a decision (on START) should not be decided under the pressure of a deadline," McConnell said.

He also said he was concerned about "this administration's rushing into a policy judgment, then having to study the problem the policy judgment was meant to address."

Among instances the Kentucky Republican cited was President Obama's wanting to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, without considering where suspected terrorist detainees would be relocated.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said the treaty "represents our national interests" and that concerns about issues such as verification and tactical weapons have been "responded to easily in my judgment."

"The responsibility for stopping the arms race falls on our shoulders," he said.

The bottom line, said Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., ranking Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, is for senators to remember there is no capability to verify Russian activities.

"I appreciate that we have had vigorous debate," said Lugar, considered a Senate expert in arms matters. "In my judgment, it is very important. ... I believe it is imperative for our national defense and national security."

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said any amendments the Senate approves would not kill the treaty.

"The Senate cannot kill New START in the way some are suggesting," Thune said. "The amendment would require Russian consent."