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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Obama Scores on Nuclear Proliferation at UN

Manages to get Russia and China to cooperate

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(Newser) – Barack Obama scored two significant victories at the UN yesterday, cajoling Dmitry Medvedev into saying he would get behind tougher nuclear sanctions against Iran, and convincing both Russia and China to support a resolution strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Publicly the administration wouldn’t acknowledge any quid-pro-quo, but several official tell the New York Times that the US won Russia over in part by ditching its plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe.

“Sanctions rarely lead to productive results,” said Medvedev, but “we need to help Iran to take a right decision.” China has yet to agree to such sanctions, but it did agree to support the nonproliferation resolution Obama introduced today, which calls for a halt on weapons-grade uranium and plutonium production and allows UN inspectors to monitor nuclear exports. But the resolution is non-binding, and critics say Obama is “overselling” it.

US President Barack Obama addresses the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.
US President Barack Obama addresses the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
President Barack Obama meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, in New York.
President Barack Obama meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, in New York.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
US President Barack Obama, right, greets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev upon arriving at a luncheon during the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.
US President Barack Obama, right, greets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev upon arriving at a luncheon during the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
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They are overselling this, overselling how likely it is to come into force, and how likely it is to be beneficial
if it did. - Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, on the treaties Obama is pursuing

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10 comments
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psycada
Sep 24, 09 9:36 AM CDT
none of this matters as long as the US and the UN allow Israel to remain non-signatories. If you want a real victory for non-proliferation, make Israel sign and abide by the same non-proliferation treaty Iran has already signed and is fully compliant with. Reply
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UrUndertaker
Sep 24, 09 10:06 AM CDT
"Iran has already signed and is fully compliant with." And your evidence is contrary to what the State Department has been saying
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
RobN
Sep 24, 09 10:30 AM CDT
Fully compliant? Seriously?
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Wills
Sep 24, 09 6:36 PM CDT
Yeah, like how they aren't allowing IAEA inspectors in and are making secret deals with North Korea for nuclear tech? At least Israel is honest enough to not sign up, instead of sign on and lie about it. Worse, Iran will only lie about compliance until they develop the bomb. After their first test they'll just drop the whole treaty, which is exactly what North Korea did. Which sounds better to you?
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doingtherightthing
Sep 24, 09 10:56 AM CDT
Obama is over-selling alright.......putting trust in Russia, what a stupid mistake.The Russians are jealous of the USA, and will do anything to bring us down to there level. China another communist country not to be trusted. Has anybody told Obama were not communists or socialists, yet?......... Obama is trying to circle the covered wagons without any Indians. Thats a lost cause convincing Russia and China. Will somebody show Obama how to trust in America first..........the birthers might be on to something after all......... Reply
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