US 'Leaks' Brit secrets
By TODD VENEZIAPosted: 1:26 AM, February 5, 2011
The United States is stabbing Britain in the back with a nuclear missile.
In order to get Russia to agree to the New START nuclear-weapons treaty, the United States reportedly agreed to tell the Russians secrets about Britain's nuclear arsenal, according to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.
The United States told Russia that it would hand over the serial numbers of the Trident missiles it supplies Britain, one of America's closest allies.
The serial numbers would give Russia a good handle on just how many missiles are in the hands of Britain, which has long refused to give any details of its nuclear-weapons program, according to The Telegraph newspaper.
It's not clear if the agreement will apply only to the missiles supplied from now on or to all of the Trident missiles in the UK's arsenal.
America had asked the Britain to give up more detailed data on its nukes. The United States and Russia both reveal to each other such information about their own arsenals.
But Britain steadfastly refused, since it has such a comparatively small stockpile, the paper reported. The country's foreign secretary last year said that "up to 160" warheads are generally active, but wouldn't divulge the number of missiles.
todd.venezia@nypost.com
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