Gates warns of consequences if arms-reduction treaty is not ratified

November 21, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

McClatchy Newspapers

SANTIAGO, Chile

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Saturday rejected claims by Senate Republicans that the new START arms-reduction treaty with Russia would hamper U.S. missile-defense programs and nuclear-weapons modernization, warning of “significant consequences” if the Senate doesn’t ratify the accord.

He said that Russia also could respond to a failure to approve the treaty by scaling back its assistance for the war in Afghanistan. Russia has allowed the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization to ship supplies through its territory to Afghanistan, including a recent decision to permit transport of so-called mine-resistant ambush- protected vehicles, the heavily armored troop carriers used to guard against hidden bombs.

“Despite what anybody says, I, as secretary of Defense, and the entire uniformed leadership of the American military believe that this treaty is in our national security interest,” Gates said, taking on claims by critics of the treaty that some in the military privately oppose the accord.

His comments to reporters after meeting with officials in Chile were part of a lobbying blitz by senior Obama administration officials to persuade the Senate to ratify the treaty.