In Letter To Senate, Obama Promises That New START Treaty Won't Limit Missile Defense -- Washington Post
President Obama issued a letter to the Senate on Sunday pledging to fully develop a U.S. missile defense system in Europe, as part of a final offensive to relieve concerns about the nuclear arms pact with Russia as it moves toward a final vote.
The letter reiterated administration policy but was an especially extensive and detailed statement on missile defense by the president. Parts of it were read aloud by Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) shortly before a vote on an amendment that could have killed the treaty. That amendment was defeated, 59 to 37.
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MIDDLE EAST
Iraq's main Sunni bloc to participate in government.
Thousands of Christians flee central Iraq after attacks.
Shi'ite Muslims flagellate themselves to commemorate Ashura.
Report: 5 Palestinians killed after Israeli airstrike in Gaza.
Officer at center of Abu Ghraib scandal vows to clear name.
ASIA
China-India row over Kashmir escalates, raising fears of military tensions.
SKorea military maneuvers scuttled by bad weather. N.Korea predicts 'disaster' if S.Korea drill goes ahead.
Top CIA spy in Pakistan pulled amid threats after public accusation over attack.
Japan shifts defense strategy toward N. Korea, China.
AFRICA
Defiant Gbagbo orders UN out of Ivory Coast. Fears of fresh civil war in Ivory Coast as world calls for "losing" president to quit.
WikiLeaks: Sudan's president 'stashed $9 billion'.
Southern Sudan awaits independence, perhaps more violence.
Zimbabwe's Mugabe: Party ready to regain dominance.
EUROPE
German Chancellor Merkel in surprise Afghan visit.
Moscow police arrest hundreds ahead of nationalist rallies.
Strongman Lukashenko aims to win another Belarus poll.
Coldest December since records began as temperatures plummet to minus 10C bringing travel chaos across Britain.
AMERICAS
"Dream Act" immigration bill blocked in U.S. Senate.
Raul Castro says Cubans must back economic reforms.
Obama raises push for deal on arms pact.
Bank of America cuts off WikiLeaks payments.
Mexico hunts 151 prison escapees. Mother shot dead at anti-crime vigil in Chihuahua.
Venezuela parliament gives Hugo Chavez more powers.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Holiday terror warning cites car bombs and small arms attack.
Has al-Qaida targeted Christmas?
Taliban leader linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Islam captured in Afghan east.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Google faces German publishers' complaints of discrimination in EU probe.
Eurozone plans economic integration move.
Deal recovers $7.2 billion for Madoff fraud victims.
Markets sanguine on Moody's big Ireland downgrade.
Cash-rich IMF plans to refurbish its 'opulent' headquarters.