'...historic healthcare reforms...laid down the law to Israel...a landmark nuclear disarmament deal'

[Jackeens]

Huge cut in warheads banishes legacy of the Cold War

First Obama secured his historic healthcare reforms. Then he laid down the law to Israel. Now – a landmark nuclear disarmament deal

By Rupert Cornwell in Washington - Saturday, 27 March 2010

Russia and the US will sign their most comprehensive nuclear arms control agreement of the post-Cold War era in Prague next month, slashing their strategic warheads by a third, and making substantial cuts in missiles and other long-range delivery systems.

The deal announced yesterday by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev breaks years of deadlock but it is at least as important in diplomatic and political terms as in its purely military aspects. For Mr Obama, the new treaty is a foreign policy achievement to match his huge domestic victory this week in pushing through historic healthcare legislation – and one that goes a long way to fulfil his administration's pledge to "re-set" relations with its former superpower rival.

...this week's victory in the domestic power struggle over health has indirectly given a huge boost to Mr Obama's international stature with implications for some of the most intractable international problems. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains at an impasse but on Tuesday the President demonstrated a new uncompromising approach with Benjamin Netanyahu using the Israeli leader's visit to Washington to turn up the pressure over Jewish settlements in occupied territory.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/huge-cut-in-warheads-banishes-legacy-of-the-cold-war-1928733.html

[Happyhippychick]

1. There's only one question I have

What they hell has he been doing for 14 months??

[impik]

8. Saving America from complete collapse? I know, short memory is a problem.

[Cha]

2. It's so good to see all their

enduring work come to this stage of fruition.

[NavyDavy]

3. he was trying to keep one of his campaign promises of bi-partisanship

which he should have realized was a lost cause from get go.....but I am glad to see him getting things done now....lets keep it a going, Mr. President

[HuckleB]

4. K & R.

[AlinPA]

5. The nuclear arms control agreement must be ratified by 67 votes in the Senate. With republicans not

cooperating (re: McCain statement) and their obstruction, it may be stopped. There could be a few votes but republicans have been sticking together, not wanting to give the President any successes.

[DCKit]

7. If they try to sabotage something this important, it's not going to reflect well on them.

But I sort of hope they do. It'd be a real hoot to lose a dozen or five of the most egregious Republican obstructionists between the two houses.

[eridani]

6. I'd say 2 our of 3 is pretty good, really

As for the third thing, a mandate without a public option is fascism.