Bad Deal, Mr. President

Obama's invocation of a nuclear-free world makes him sound not inspirational but foolish.

Wolf Blitzer asked on CNN this evening whether Obama would regret expressing "trust" in Russian President Medvedev. My answer: No. As ever, the president's words were carefully parsed:

I trust President Medvedev to not only listen and to negotiate constructively, but also to follow through on the agreements that are contained here today.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement! The problem is not the words, but the policy. President Obama and President Medvedev have inked an agreement to reduce nuclear arsenals on both sides further, down to 1,675 warheads each. Obama expressed a hope that this example would inspire others (ie, Iran) to abandon nuclear proliferation too. Good luck with that. Obama's invocation of a nuclear-free world makes him sound not inspirational but foolish. Gandhian self-denial will not impress the Iranians. Meanwhile the US is reducing its old nuclear arsenal - while eschewing the nuclear testing that would enable replacement of that arsenal with fewer newer weapons. Without testing, the new weapons can never be fully trusted. In pursuit of an illusion, the president is risking the security not just of the American nation but of all America's friends as well.