A new relationship.Byline: The Register-Guard In their summit meeting this week, Vladimir Putin and George Bush are on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of agreements that would signal a historic shift in their two countries' relationship. The shift is overdue: Even before Sept. 11 it was clear that Russia and the United States had more grounds for cooperation than for conflict. And the terrorist attacks on New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Washington, D.C., hammered home the fact that Russia and the United States have common interests and common enemies in the post-Cold War world. One agreement is expected to produce deep reductions in both nations' nuclear arsenals. It is wasteful, and dangerous, for Russia and the United States to maintain 6,000 nuclear warheads apiece. The two-thirds reduction under discussion would leave the two countries with more than enough to deter any aggressor, while reducing the risk that a missile in Russia's decaying arsenal might be stolen or accidentally launched. Russia is also close to agreeing on modifications of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty or ABMT) was a treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the limitation of the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems used in defending areas against missile-delivered nuclear that would allow limited testing of a missile defense system Noun 1. missile defense system - naval weaponry providing a defense system missile defence system naval weaponry - weaponry for warships . The treaty outlawed such systems on grounds that they might embolden em·bold·en tr.v. em·bold·ened, em·bold·en·ing, em·bold·ens To foster boldness or courage in; encourage. See Synonyms at encourage. their possessor to launch a first strike. Russia no longer fears such an attack by the United States. Modifying the treaty would be vastly preferable to abrogating it. Though the doctrine of mutually assured destruction no longer looms over Russian-American relations, the ABM ABM: see guided missile. ABM - Asynchronous Balanced Mode treaty helped keep the arms race from spiraling even further out of control and continues to provide reassurance to China and the United States' European allies. The Bush-Putin agenda also includes closer economic ties, a better-defined relationship between Russia and NATO NATO: see North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO in full North Atlantic Treaty Organization International military alliance created to defend western Europe against a possible Soviet invasion. and a review of the sale of Russian nuclear materials to Iran. And surely the two presidents will discuss the progress of the effort to crush Osama bin Laden's terrorist network - an effort that has already enjoyed valuable Russian support. A new relationship is evolving between the United States and Russia, and it promises to bear fruit at Bush's Texas ranch this week. |
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