How can Russia really believe that the US is serious concerning reduction of nuclear weapons. The US may persuade Russia to reduce its nuclear capabilities. However US has no intentions of reducing weapons. Russia is making to many concessions and getting nothing in return. In fact US intends to increase weapon capabilities in Europe. Poland is hosting a Patriot surface-to-air missiles, which the United States claimed would be a dummy variety, Poland has stated the missiles will be combat-ready. The US SM-3 mobile missile system, is to be placed in Poland, Czech Republic "may be" in Ukraine, no doubt will also be in Afghanistan as US will remain there for decades, and despite denials at present also in Georgia, (which is also purchasing Missile systems from US arms manufacturer,) and lets not forget Baltic States. Russia is ignoring at its peril these facts and will find itself surrounded in the future. One can not but think of the British prime minister Neville Chamberlains appeasement policy with Germany in 1938

The "START" NONSENSE is more publicity seeking and political career enhancing than any true desire to make the world safer or to prevent future wars. Both countries have enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world several times over. It is totally irrelevent if they have enough nukes to destroy the world only one time, or enough to destroy the world ten times. Both countries will always hold enough nukes to destroy the world. The two countries do not need a treaty or agreements to unilaterally start reducing the weapons that are in excess. One destruction of the world on each side should be quite enough to keep on hand. Associated START propaganda serves no purpose for either country or the world, but makes slick politicing.