[Scan-DC] A Secret Fight over Russia in the Obama Administration

[Alan Henney]

-----Original Message----- 
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 4:20 PM
Subject: Article



An Administration Fight Over Open Skies? From the Weekly Standard: ?The 
Obama administration has scheduled a deputies committee meeting this 
week?tentatively set for Tuesday?to resolve a bitter inter-agency dispute 
over a request from Russia with respect to the Open Skies program. Informed 
sources believe the White House is likely to side with the State Department, 
which wants to accommodate Russia, over the objections of the Obama 
administration's Defense Department and intelligence agencies.

?The Open Skies treaty allows the United States and Russia to fly over each 
other's territory with planes loaded with certain agreed-upon sensor 
packages, in order to ensure compliance with arms control agreements and to 
provide assurance against preparations for various military surprises.

?Russia has asked the U.S. to agree to an upgrade in the sensor package 
their planes can carry?The request would apparently result in a significant 
increase in Russian spying capabilities. The first response from Pentagon 
was, according to one government official close to the situation, ?You've 
got to be kidding.?

?But the State Department has been making the case for acceding to the 
Russians' demands, and the White House seems to be on State's side. The 
White House has also stonewalled requests for information from the 
congressional intelligence committees.? http://tws.io/1jE1OZ5