Russian expert calls Trump’s statement on nuclear disarmament impromptu [Archive] - Debate Policy

Balu

01-20-2017, 08:18 AM

Drummond

01-20-2017, 09:08 AM

Russian expert calls Trump’s statement on nuclear disarmament impromptu

Russian Politics & Diplomacy (http://tass.com/politics)
January 20, 13:42 UTC+3 MOSCOW
An expert believes the new US administration does not know much about disarmament

https://phototass3.cdnvideo.ru/width/744_b12f2926/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20170120/1159124.jpg
© Alex Wong/Getty Images

MOSCOW, January 20. /TASS/. US President-elect Donald Trump may have made an impromptu statement when he mentioned nuclear disarmament, Head of the Center for International Security at the Institute of the World Economy and International Relations of Russia’s Academy of Sciences Alexey Arbatov said at a roundtable dubbed "Donald Trump’s Inauguration: Russian-US Relations Agenda."
Read also
https://cdn2.tass.ru/width/333_3412a45b/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20161109/1151951.jpg (http://tass.com/world/911299)

Analysts predict new US president Donald Trump may propose new world agenda (http://tass.com/world/911299)

On Sunday, the Times and Germany's Bild published an interview with Trump in which he mentioned the possibility of lifting sanctions on Russia as well as nuclear disarmament dialogue with Russia. Some media outlets came to the conclusion that Trump was ready to ease sanctions in return for a nuclear deal.
According to Arbatov, Trump’s statement on disarmament "was an impromptu" one. "By the way, the new US administration does not know much about disarmament. The same goes for Trump’s statements on sanctions. This was a flight of fantasy that has no boundaries," the expert added. "The future of the disarmament actually depends on Russia because no one in the incoming US administration is an expert in this sphere, moreover, they have never dealt with it," Arbatov added. "Russia can seize the initiative in the disarmament issues."
"This is one of the most important fields as far as our security is concerned," he stressed. "If Russia wishes, it can have a chance to put forward a package of realistic proposals on all issues which have remained ‘a bone of contention’ in Russian-US relations. In this case, Moscow will be able to influence the future dialogue’s agenda rather than only respond to the US proposals, which is important."
Read also
https://phototass2.cdnvideo.ru/width/333_3412a45b/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20161115/1152595.jpg (http://tass.com/world/912568)

Analyst says Trump won’t cancel Iranian nuclear deal but may renew sanctions (http://tass.com/world/912568)

"It depends on Russia’s position to a great extent, whether it will become easier for us to deal with the US. Trump will undoubtedly take steps aimed at revamping the US’ nuclear forces. Besides, the US President-elect is ready to reduce the number of nuclear weapons but he will insist on extending the missile defense system program," the Russian expert said adding that Russia would have to show flexibility, otherwise "talks will come to a deadlock and the US will adopt offensive and defensive arms programs."

More:
http://tass.com/politics/926284

Balu, how does Russia come to be 'expert' on what the incoming Trump Administration knows, or does not know - or intends, months or years before talks are even held !! - about any moves towards disarmament ??

Even supposing that there's something to any of that - which I don't accept !! - are you assuring us that there will be nobody available to advise ? Did all of America's military advisers just, somehow, 'disappear' along with the Obama Presidency ??

Balu, you're indulging in a spot of anti-American propaganda here (.. what, REALLY ? :rolleyes:), trying to make a case for having some sort of moral high ground as a potential, or actual, armaments-benefactor to the world. This, from Russia ... who once brought us the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the near-extinction of the human race !!!!

Here's my thinking, Balu.

You have NO room, NO latitude, for any 'moral high ground', nor yet your unsupportable judgmentality ! If 'good times' are ahead, militarily or otherwise on the world stage, each side will have to behave responsibly.

This will include - 'sorry' to have to tell you this - Putin actually reining in, or stopping entirely, his belligerence on that world stage !! No more land-grabs. No more threats, however indirect, against weaker nations he'd prefer to bully into submission (Ukraine comes to mind). In fact, NO more empire-building AT ALL.

Oh, and if Russia could STOP its incursive, illegitimate and provocative flights into others' airspaces, such as it regularly does against British airspace, for example .. so much the better. Russian belligerence, not least the sheer pointless stupidity of it, the world definitely does NOT need.

Got that, Balu ? H'mm ??