Ground rules in negotiations is to always begin by asking for way more than you'll settle for. Imagine if a world leader started out demanding only a reduction in arms. By the time the back and forth ended, you'd have maybe a tiny decrease at the best. If you begin by asking for a complete removal, what you're aiming for is as large a reduction as you can get.

Obviously our nuclear deterrent has served us well in the past. It would be boneheaded now that even smaller countries are beginning to amass them to envision everyone playing by the rules. We have to retain at least enough to create a huge hurt on anyone that would be idiotic enough to lob one. Obama knows that.

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