ARTICLE: Nearing Arms Pact, U.S. and Russia Look Ahead, By PETER BAKER, New York Times, December 17, 2009

Next step is to go after the tactical nukes, most subject to theft--we are told.

An exaggerated fear, no doubt, but a perfectly fine target to pursue.

As I have indicated earlier, there is plenty of unneeded excess that both sides can safely trim, mostly for cost reasons. And yes, we will reduce to a dyad of ground and sea-based, retiring the most vulnerable leg (air-based).

But eventually, Obama or some successor will hit bone, and then the pushback will be profound (and I will join it vigorously).

But plenty of road still to cover.