Russia says US agrees to ‘limit’ missile defenses while Moscow MIRVs its new ICBMs

Is the permanent bureaucracy undermining President Bush’s strategic missile defense agenda?

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov claims that in a joint declaration on bilateral strategic relations, the US will pledge to “limit” development of missile defenses. Ivanov told the State Duma, “The declaration will clearly state that the US missile defense system will be limited.” He didn’t elaborate, but if true, Ivanov is contradicting the Bush administration’s position that it would not sign away missile defense capabilities.

According to AFP, “Ivanov said the document forbids the United States from using the missile program against Russia’s national interests.” That means that the US would remain subject to Cold War-style nuclear blackmail from Moscow, and that Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) will remain.

Ivanov added that the Bush administration will agree that Russia can load multiple nuclear warheads (MIRVs) on its new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), presumably the SS-27 Topol-M2, which Russia previously said would carry only a single warhead. If true, it’s time to start asking tough questions about the deal soon to be signed in Moscow.

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