Obama: New START Treaty would not hinder missile defense

President Obama sought to bolster the case for the New START Treaty with Russia on Saturday by sending a letter to Senate leaders aimed at easing fears that the pact will hinder the U.S missile defense programs.

“The New START treaty places no limitations on the development or deployment of our missile defense programs,” Obama writes in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The letter comes ahead of a Senate vote Saturday afternoon on an amendment to New START that would strike language on missile defense from the preamble. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) are the sponsors of the amendment. They allege the treaty could hinder the programs.

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who is objecting to Democratic efforts to ratify New START in the lame-duck session, said on the Senate floor that the letter “shows the administration is scrambling and making it up as it goes along.”

But Democrats — who are seeking to corral GOP votes for the pact — say any changes would sink the treaty. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) said the amendment is not needed and carries “dangerous implications” for the success of the arms control pact.