GOP senators press Obama on missile defense

More than 40 Republican senators signed onto a letter to President Obama Tuesday that pushed him not to reduce the U.S. nuclear arsenal in the wake of his comments to Russian President Dimitry Medvedev asking for “flexibility” on missile defense.

The 43 GOP senators said they would oppose any efforts by the administration to limit U.S. missile defense capabilities or pursue nuclear arms reductions.

The senators’ letter, headed up by Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), was the latest Republican criticism of the president for his comment to Medvedev that he needs “space” and will have more “flexibility” after the election.

“Not having to worry about the judgment of the American people on this important national security issue may allow more flexibility to make concessions to the Russians, but it would be antithetical to our safety and security and would be counter to other assurances you’ve given,” the senators wrote.

The senators warned that agreements limiting the speed and range of U.S. missile defense systems would go against assurances Obama made when the New START treaty with Russia was ratified in 2010.

They also pressed Obama about a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that placed limitations on sharing missile defense information with Russia.

“We caution that any attempt to treat this provision as non-binding, as you claimed in your signing statement, could have serious repercussions,” they wrote.

The letter was signed by 43 Republicans, with four Republican senators not joining: Sens. Scott Brown (Mass), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Rand Paul (Ky.).

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