Sarah Palin Slams President Ronald Reagan On Nuclear Policy

by Thomas Wellborn

Sarah Palin speaks out against President Obama’s nuclear reduction policy in Minneapolis on Wednesday.  Her lashing included the following:

“No administration in America’s history would, I think, ever have considered such a step that we just found out President Obama is supporting today. It’s unbelievable. It’s like getting out there on a playground, a bunch of kids, getting ready to fight, and one of them says, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face. I’m not going to retaliate. Do what you want to with me.'”

“No, it’s unacceptable,” she continued. “This is another thing that the American public, the more that they find out, what is a part of this agenda, they are going to rise up and they are going to say ‘no more.’ National security, national defense is the No. 1 job of the federal government.”

On Michael Steele, “I think he’s doing a great job.”

What does all this have to do with President Ronald Reagan?

The first strategic arms reduction proposal (START) was presented by United States President Ronald Reagan in Geneva on 29 June 1982. Reagan proposed a dramatic reduction in strategic forces in two phases, which he referred to as SALT III at the time.  The first phase would reduce overall warhead counts on any missile type to 5,000, with an additional limit of 2,500 on ICBMs. Additionally, a total of 850 ICBMs would be allowed, with a limit of 110 “heavy throw” missiles like the SS-18, with additional limits on the total “throw weight” of the missiles as well. The second phase introduced similar limits on heavy bombers and their warheads, and other strategic systems as well.

…

START I expired December 5, 2009. Both sides agreed to continue observing the terms of the treaty until a new agreement is reached.  There are proposals to renew and expand the treaty, supported by U.S. President Barack Obama. Sergei Rogov, director of the Institute of the U.S. and Canada, said: “Obama supports sharp reductions in nuclear arsenals and I believe that Russia and the U.S. may sign in the summer or fall of 2009 a new treaty that would replace START-1”.

Palin’s statements on Obama’s nuclear reduction initiative can logically be applied to those of President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.  Hands down.  Regardless, I expect nothing more than silence from the right when obvious comparisons are drawn between the two treaties.  Sarah Palin’s shameless hypocritical double-standard remains, and continues to be unchallenged by her supporters.

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