But the next president need not, indeed he should not, do so from the disadvantaged position that he will have to abrogate a treaty before he proceeds to deployment.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: What ABM Treaty?

Yet, a Kremlin spokesman has already served notice that Moscow will feel free to abrogate the START follow-on treaty if it believes that U.S. missile defenses in Europe are a threat to its deterrent.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: False START

In the past, the administration has said that if it could not get an agreement with Russia it would abrogate the treaty this month, so as to begin a new round of tests.

ECONOMIST: Rock-solid allies? No. But certainly enemies no longer