Russia, U.S. Disarmament Said to Slow Down

[Khephra]

MOSCOW -- Disputes between Russia and the United States over funding and lucrative contracts are hampering an international effort to destroy the world's largest chemical weapons arsenal, experts said Wednesday.

With a commitment to destroy 44,000 tons of chemical weapons by 2012, Russia has eagerly courted foreign funding. More than 20 countries -- including members of the Group of Eight -- have pledged money for the program, which has been beset by shortfalls.

Western countries have spent hundreds of millions of dollars but only a fraction of that money has been channeled through the Russian government with most going directly to contractors -- the vast majority of them non-Russian.

Patrick Wakefield, a deputy assistant to the U.S. defense secretary who is responsible for chemical disarmament and threat reduction, alluded to "some problems" between U.S. and Russian officials over the past year.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-russia-chemical-weapons,0,4456915.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[nikatnyte]

1. Don't you remember the first debate?

In response to Jim Lehrer's final question, Kerry cited disarmament as the most pressing issue for a U.S. president to focus on. Bush lamely realized he'd better say much the same thing or he'd look like even more of an idiot than he usually does, but he phrased it that his priority was "to keep these weapons outa the hands of terra-ists." As if Iraq has anything to do with the chemical weapons in Russia and nuclear stockpiles elsewhere. God help us!