Russia, U.S. say new START treaty marks end of 'Cold War'

[Kshasty]

The new strategic arms reduction treaty marks the official end of the "Cold War" and must be ratified as soon as possible, Russia and the United States have announced in a joint statement.

"The Treaty ushers in the transition to a higher level of cooperation between Russia and the U.S. with respect to disarmament and non-proliferation" the statement said on Thursday. "It lays the foundation for qualitatively new bilateral relations in the strategic military field and, in effect, marks the final end of the "Cold War" period."

The new START treaty, signed on April 8 in Prague, replaced the 1991 pact that expired in December 2009.

The document stipulates that the number of nuclear warheads be reduced to 1,550 on each side over seven years, while the number of delivery vehicles, both deployed and non-deployed, must not exceed 800.

The statement talked of increased security and improved relations between the two powers.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100514/159012782.html

[Kolesar]

1. I cannot believe that bored republicans exist on DU just to unrec the threads

Are you a bunch of sick shut-ins?

[Igel]

2. I've only unrecced a few posts.

This one is almost to the "unrec" level.

End of the Cold War? With a treaty that is slightly greater in extent, but qualitatively very similar to, at least two previous treaties? One that means almost nothing for regular troops or things that can lead to a hot war? One that leaves civil society entirely out of the picture?

End of the Cold War?

Ah, on closer reading this is the "final end" of the Cold War. As opposed to the intermediate and initial ends, not to mention some preliminary ends. Perhaps there'll be some final concluding ends, with some post-conclusion ends to wrap things up a bit more before the ultimate end.

"End" obviously has a meaning that eludes me. A line has infinitely many points but still only two end points. The Cold War, linear and therefore a line (at least metaphorically), apparently has arbitrarily many ends.

Euclid would be appalled. Still, he was just a geometer, not a geomaster.