[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 175 (Tuesday, October 30, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1482-E1483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ASKING NICELY WILL NOT MAKE RUSSIA COMPLY WITH THE INF TREATY

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, since 2014, the Russian Federation has 
been in violation

[[Page E1483]]

of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Despite four 
years of patience and asking nicely, the Kremlin doubled-down on its 
aggressive development of dangerous new nuclear delivery systems. Just 
in March, Putin unveiled several new nuclear weapons featuring 
simulated displays of strikes on the United States homeland. These 
provocative acts and renewed Russian aggression demonstrate we are in a 
new Cold War where we cannot be handicapped by agreements Putin does 
not honor.
  That is why I support the President's decision to terminate the INF 
Treaty. Why should we continue to play by the rules when Putin is 
cheating? We must be prepared to counter and outmatch Russia's missile 
build-up. The Treaty as it stands only limits America's ability to 
compete. It is more destabilizing when only one-party complies because 
there is no longer a transparent balance of forces.
  Let's set aside that the Chinese have absolutely no such limitations 
on intermediated range nuclear forces, given that there is no U.S.-
Chinese version of this treaty. Indeed, China has free rein on 
intermediate range nuclear missile development, while the U.S. is 
limited by the INF treaty.
  Consistently Putin has violated treaty after treaty and undermined 
whatever goodwill was created by the conclusion of the Cold War. Putin 
aspires to rebuild the might of the Soviet and Tsarist Empires. He is 
working to re-divide the world between East and West. Much like 
Hitler's attempt to rearm and undo the humiliation that Germany had 
suffered in the First World War, Putin today is rearming the Red Army 
and attempting to undo the humiliation Russia experienced with the 
collapse of the Soviet Union. American political, economic, and 
military strength--along with the persistent rise of democracy among 
the former Soviet republics--have always stood in the way of Putin's 
grand ambitions. As have the treaties that his predecessors signed with 
the United States, which Putin sees as a major source of the Soviet 
demise.
  Due to our failure to confront the Kremlin, the Russian military has 
a four-year head-start in the development and fielding of intermediate-
range missiles. However, now that we are free from the self-imposed 
constraints of the dead INF Treaty, American innovation can be 
unleashed. The re-energized Arsenal of Democracy, which has deterred 
many great conflicts in the modern era, can remind the Kremlin why it 
was in their interests to sign the INF Treaty in the first place. This 
will also provide new urgency to renewing the New START Treaty that is 
set to expire in 2021.
  Putin must learn the lessons of his predecessors: that competing with 
America on an industrial and technological playing field is a fool's 
errand. Allowing Russia to violate the INF Treaty with impunity was a 
dangerous mistake. But now that we can compete, Russia will find more 
incentive to return to the negotiating table and seek a new treaty. 
Peace through strength is not just a catchy saying, but a well-
practiced strategy to maintain peace and order in the world. After all, 
it was this strategy implemented by President Reagan that prompted 
Moscow to sign the INF Treaty in 1987 in the first place. We must do 
this again. In this dangerous new era of great power rivalry, we cannot 
rely on Russian goodwill, but rather American strength.
  And that's just the way it is.

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