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Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30

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‘Trust’ impossible; ‘verify’ difficult

As the United States and Russia consider a New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty to lower our numbers of costly nuclear weapons, that sounds like good news – if!

What’s the “if” about?

We expect the United States will honor any treaty to which it agrees. But Russia?

Remember the advice that President Ronald Reagan gave for dealing with the old Soviet Union? He said, “Trust — but verify.”

We’d emphasize “verify” — though even that’s no guarantee.