U.S. Senate offers a Xmas present to the world

Yesterday, the United States Senate voted 71-26 to ratify the new strategic nuclear arms treaty (New START) with Russia. New START, in addition to establishing a system for monitoring and verification, limits the two countries to 1,550 nuclear warheads each, down from the current 2,200. Considering that between the two to them, the U.S. and Russia possess more than 90% of the world's nuclear weapons, this is of global importance.

It is also a small step toward the two nations fulfilling their responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which requires them to rid themselves of nuclear arms. So at this holiday time, let us be grateful for small mercies.

To the U.S. Senate, a merry Xmas and a happy New Year.