Russia and Iran signed a nuclear fuel supply deal long opposed by Washington Sunday, paving the way for Tehran to start up its first atomic power plant next year, state media reported.
While many critics of the US policy like to highlight the precise level of our funding for securing old Russian nuclear warheads and nuclear material, I think this is a little more significant. For one thing, it is outrageous that the Russians essentially hold us hostage to their loose material and say to us, "if you are that worried about it, you pay for it." In the end, an attitude like that will lead to a nuke going off in Russia before it ever goes off here. If you are an Islamists nutball and you get a nuke in Russia, will you try to smuggle it to the US or just detonate it there? Islamists tend to kill in their own neighborhoods where reaching targets is easier.
It is also outrageous that the Russians earn money selling nuclear material while they accept our money to secure their nuclear material.
On top of Moscow's Ukraine adventures and their continued sales to China of advanced weapons, and Putin's crippling of democracy at home, it is time to play some hardball with Russia. Kick them out of the G-7. They want to act like a Third World Nation? They can join them.
