I stopped reading this thread when Andre referred to the SALT treaty with Russia as an accomplishment. 
Ill let the irony of that sink in for 333 and BF. The rest of you are too stupid to understand why Andre's comment is funny.
We have some serious political science scholars on this board.
hahaha....why do you think the SALT treaty was bad?...it accomplished a lot of stuff...
1. It opened the Russian arsenal up to inspection and to getting an accurate count of just what the Russians have..you can't just trust the Russians to give us an accurate accounting of what they have....we have to see for ourselves.
2....this is important because the Russians are not so good at maintaining their weapons systems....thus creating the possibility of nuclear accidents...with the treaty we get to see exactly if and how the Russians are maintaining their nuclear arsenals...
3. It gives us a way to verify and watch as the Russians destroy their nuclear bombs as they reduce their arsenals like they are supposed to under the treaty...
4. By knowing what they have and how much, it makes military planning EASIER..we can plan how to respond to what they have and how to counter any advantages they have..it provides us with CERTAINTY...which any general will tell you is something ALL war planners want when assessing capabilities and strategies
5. politically it proves to our allies and the world that we are serious about peace because many in the world believe the U.S. is bent on world domination (which isn't true)...it gives us the moral authority to tell other nations to reduce their armaments as well....
6. Also the more they open up to us, the more we can spy on them and recruit spies from their side just like they are already doing here
7. The SALT pact binds the U.S. and Russia together politically and this in turn generates trust in other areas where we can also cooperate...for example, the Russians help us in Afghanistan by allowing us to bring military supplies across their country....this saves time, money and also puts us and the Russians ON THE SAME SIDE
what more can I point out to you?..and also, if you are going to criticize Obama for the SALT treaty, then you have to criticize Carter, Reagan, Both Bushes and Clinton as well..all of whom SUPPORTED THE TREATY and also...MOST OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE TREATY TOOK PLACE UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION..BUSH GETS THE CREDIT FOR MOST OF THE NEGOTIATIONS....but it was Obama who was able to push it through congress and get it ratified.....
sorry I had to bust your bubble again...but you are used to this by now anyway
2.
