Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker blasts Obama administration over alleged Russian arms treaty breach

Lawmakers blast timing of nominee on alleged arms control breach

Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) demanded details last Thursday from Brian McKeon — President Obama’s pick to take over as principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for policy — to help determine whether the Obama administration delayed notification to Congress that Russia might have violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The lawmakers suspect Obama officials of having dragged their heels on transparency about Russian compliance as senators considered in 2010 whether to ratify the New START nuclear-arms reduction pact with Moscow.

However, McKeon said indications of the possible Russian intermediate-range arms-control violation began surfacing just as Congress was considering approving the separate strategic-reductions pact three years ago.

NationalJournal
2/25/14